Billingsley can't hold lead as Dodgers fall in 13

A 3-0 mark in the month of June would suggest that Chad Billingsley is doing just fine. But, a deeper look into his numbers tells a different story.

Spotted a 4-0 lead in the fifth, Billingsley let it slip away over the next two innings. A combination of giving up huge hits (two homers and a triple) along with a lack of control cost him. The White Sox would eventually go on to take this one in 13 innings, 5-4.

With the loss, the Dodgers dropped their first series in a month, with their last one losing two of three from the Angels May 22-24. Any way you slice it, those are some pretty impressive stats.

A three-run homer by A.J. Pierzynski on a full count put the Sox up in the sixth, 5-4. The funny part to all of this is that Billingsley was actually cruising through the opening four innings without allowing a hit. It sure looked like it would be a good day for the Dodgers, but that quickly changed.

The Dodgers bounced back in the seventh to tie the game at five, where it would stay for awhile. Russell Martin reached on a throwing error by Alexei Ramirez with one out. Orlando Hudson singled to move Martin to third. Casey Blake hit an RBI groundout to tie it.

As for the rest of the game, there's really not a whole lot to say for the Dodgers, as their offense went into the toilet. After Hudson's single in the seventh, they went the rest of the game without getting another hit. That would be six innings worth of flailing away. So they pretty much didn't deserve this one anyway.

The end came in the 13th with Jeff Weaver on the mound. Two singles and an intentional walk loaded the bases with nobody out. But, Weaver got the next two on flyouts to Matt Kemp in center. Scott Podsednik then lined a single just out of the reach of Kemp that ended the game.

Back to Billingsley, and it appears that he's hit a June swoon. As I said before, he may be 3-0, but the numbers aren't that good for him. The 3.82 ERA is high for him, and a 1.40 WHIP is just way too high.

His strikeouts have also gone down, as he only has three each his last three games. It seems to me that batters are being more patient with him and letting him lose control, rather than chasing out of the strike zone.

The next start for Bills comes next Tuesday home against Colorado, who are scorching hot right now. A big game by him would be a step in the right direction, and it all starts with maintaining control of his stuff as the game wears on.

After playing in a long, extra inning game the day before, the Dodgers quickly turn around and start a three-game set with the Mariners to wrap up Interleague play for 2009. The confusing thing to all of this is that I've read both Clayton Kershaw and Eric Milton will start. More seem to be saying Kershaw, so I'll go with him.