Billingsley bombs in the 6th

Once again, Chad Billinglsey proved why he can't be relied on as a top-tier starter.

Up 4-1 going into the sixth, Billingsley lost all sense of the strike zone, walking four batters, and then watched Justin Upton hit a bases clearing double off of Matt Guerrier to grab the lead. It would stick, as the Diamondbacks got the win, 6-4.

The implosion in the sixth was probably foreshadowed earlier in the game. In the first, the Diamondbacks got a couple of singles from Kelly Johnson and Upton, but stranded them. They cashed in one in the next inning. Ryan Roberts and Gerardo Parra singled, and Willie Bloomquist eventually hit a sac-fly RBI to go up 1-0.

The Dodgers broke through in the third. With one down, Tony Gwynn tripled to right center. Casey Blake, playing in his first game since July 2 with a bad neck, scored him on a sac-fly to tie the game at 1. After Andre Ethier singled, Matt Kemp delivered a big fly again, hitting a two-run shot to make it 3-1. It was his 26th of the year to go with his 28th stolen base in the second inning.

Aaron Miles doubled to start the fourth. A grounder by Rod Barajas got him to third, and Jamey Carroll's RBI single gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead.

Considering how well the Dodgers have played at home lately (9 wins in their last 11 entering this game), you had to like their chances of getting another win. After all, the offense was scoring runs and Billingsley had given up only one run in five innings. Things were looking up.

That is, until things started going down. For reasons that we'll never know, Billingsley once again hit a wall in the middle innings. And make no mistake about it, when he hits a wall, he crashes and burns.

It all started on a single by Chris Young, who then stole second. Billingsley then issued three straight walks to Brandon Allen, Roberts, and Parra, who battled back from an 0-2 count to force in a run. With the bases loaded, Xavier Nady hit a sac-fly RBI, and it was 4-3. Bloomquist struck out, but Johnson took a walk to load the bases again.

That was enough for Don Mattingly, as he brought the hook and inserted Guerrier. Billingsley deserved to be pulled, but Guerrier was not the right choice as Upton hit a three-run double to center to make the score 6-4.

The Dodgers had a couple of chances to at least tie the score, but came up with blanks. In the bottom of the sixth, Juan Rivera led off with a single. Carroll took a walk two outs later for two on. James Loney pinch-hit and weakly grounded back to the mound for the final out. You wouldn't think Loney would actually get a big hit now, would you? Of course not. That's why he's hitting .256 with four homers and 33 RBIs this year. Pitiful.

Gwynn continued his big night (2-for-4 with a run and stolen base) by singling and stealing second in the seventh. He was soon on third with two outs and Kemp up at the plate. Kemp has been hot lately, but not on this at-bat as he struck out to end the inning, and pretty much end any hope of a comeback.

Even though the Dodgers aren't going to make the playoffs, this was still a disappointing loss. With a 4-1 lead entering the sixth, they still couldn't put the game away. Good teams find a way to get it done, but the Dodgers showed their vulnerability and folded. That's why they're 10 games under .500.

Billingsley went 5 2/3 innings for seven hits, six runs, five walks, and four strikeouts. He's now 9-9 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.40. This start was your latest example for why he's not a #1-2 starter. In my mind he's nothing more than a #3 guy. There's no doubt he's got the stuff, but I've seen way too many games in which he'll be cruising along and then just fall apart out of nowhere.

It's not like Billingsley will be going anywhere based on a couple of factors. One, he signed a three-year contract before this season started. Two, there's more uncertainty in the Dodgers' rotation. Clayton Kershaw is obviously a sure thing, and perhaps Rubby De La Rosa has earned a spot. But Ted Lilly has been horrible this year, and who knows if Hiroki Kuroda will be back next year, even if he did waive his no-trade clause to stick around this year. I guess we'll just all have to accept the good and the bad with Billingsley.

One good sign in this game was Josh Lindblom. Making his first appearance since being recalled with Kenley Jansen hitting the DL, he pitched a scoreless ninth with a strikeout. He got some help from Barajas, who nailed Roberts trying to steal second for the final out. Lindblom has some really good stuff, so I hope he can stick around the rest of this year and show what he can do.

The Dodgers finish up their nine-game homestand on Sunday afternoon as De La Rosa takes the mound. They will then hit the road for a week in San Diego and Arizona.