Spotted a 5-0 lead after one inning and 6-0 after three, the Dodgers had every reason to believe they'd avoid the sweep at the hands of the mighty Phillies.
Then the Dodgers remembered they were the Dodgers, and it all fell apart.
The Phillies used homers from Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, and even an RBI from Vance Worley, as they came all the way back to get the win, 9-8. Predictably, the Dodgers were swept at home, and further positioned themselves as one of baseball's worst teams.
Did I mention they had a 6-0 lead?
In better times, the Dodgers put up a five spot in the first as they looked to finally get a damn win. Casey Blake and Andre Ethier walked with one out. Matt Kemp has been scuffling a bit lately, but he found a hole for an RBI single, and it was 1-0. Juan Rivera then did the unthinkable, for the Dodgers anyway, as he cracked a three-run shot, making it 4-0.
Following a walk to James Loney, Dioner Navarro's RBI double shockingly gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead after one inning. It seemed too good to be true that they'd win in a runaway. And it was.
Chad Billingsley wasn't exactly flawless, but he did get through three innings unharmed. In the third, Kemp doubled leading off. A single by Rivera put runners on the corners. After Loney struck out swinging (he's terrible), Navarro's sac-fly RBI made it 6-0.
So here we go again, as Billingsley had a big lead to work with. How would he do? Naturally, he crumbled. Like he ALWAYS does. It started in the fourth. Howard walked leading off, and Pence hit a two-run homer to go down 6-2. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but it was. The inning was then prolonged as Loney (he's terrible) booted a grounder from Miguel Martinez with two outs. Worley grounded an RBI single up the middle to go down 6-3.
Still, with a 6-3 lead, the Dodgers were in control. Aaron Miles doubled in the fourth, but nothing came of it. So back out to the mound went Billingsley.
Living up to his sorry reputation, the Phillies tacked on a couple more. Shane Victorino walked to start, which is always a bad sign. Howard singled an out later for two on. Pence then grounded one to Blake at third, and he pulled a Loney (he's terrible) and booted it, taking away a potential inning-ending double play and scoring Victorino.
Out went Billingsley (thank God), and in came Hong-Chih Kuo, who's been absolutely awful this year. He got Raul Ibanez to ground out, but Howard scored, and it was suddenly 6-5.
The Dodgers did get a run back in the fifth to at least try and maintain a lead. Rivera continued his good day by hitting a single with one out. Loney stepped in and stroked an RBI double to bump the lead to 7-5. OK, so he wasn't so terrible in that at-bat. But he is in pretty much every other one.
Then came the sixth, and the Phillies showed the Dodgers how to win big league games. With Kuo still in, Ben Francisco drew a one-out walk. You didn't think Kuo would actually not allow a baserunner now, would you? Of course not! Ha! Anyway, Blake Hawksworth came in and immediately gave up a single and stolen base to Jimmy Rollins for two runners in scoring position.
A two-run by Chase Utley knotted the game at 7. Howard gave the Phillies their first lead with a big two-run shot to right, and it was 9-7. I gotta say, that was some GREAT bullpen work by the Dodgers. Not.
Ryan Madson came on for another save opportunity, and Blake greeted him with a single. Ethier flew out, but that's not surprise because he can't get a clutch hit anymore. Kemp singled to put runners on the corners and at least present a chance at a comeback. Rivera hit a slow grounder to force Blake at second, but Kemp scored to make it 9-8. Rod Barajas pinch-hit and flew out to center to end it, giving Madson his 22nd save.
The saddest part about watching this game was that even when the Phillies came all the way back, it wasn't a surprise. In fact, I didn't even blink. You practically come to expect these things from the Dodgers. I'm surprised they're only 12 games under .500. They deserve to be even worse.
The downfall all started with Billingsley, who proved yet AGAIN that he shouldn't be a starting pitcher. He had an odd line of 4 1/3 innings, seven hits, five runs (two earned), three walks, and no strikeouts. I understand and acknowledge that his defense did him no favors. But still, he showed everyone that the bigger the situation, the worse he gets. In many ways, he's like this year's version of Jonathan Broxton. Guys who look like they should be so good, yet constantly wilt under pressure and show they're not.
At this point, I'm just ready for this crappy season to get over with. In the last few days, the Dodgers have been swept by the Phillies, watched Billingsley suck, the defense suck, and 1,000 men left on base. Oh ya, and Dee Gordon has been placed on the 15-day DL with a bad shoulder. Good Lord, just waive the white flag already.
Thursday will be an off day, and Friday starts a three-game series with the Astros. As of this writing, both teams are a combined 90-142. I'm sure ratings will go through the roof! Nathan Eovaldi will get his second start.
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