The Dodgers put up three runs late in the game, but were unable to get over the hump in falling on the road to the Cubs, 5-4. After sweeping the Nationals last weekend, the road trip has been a little rough at 1-3.
Chad Billingsley got the ball one start after pitching to a standstill last Saturday against Stephen Strasburg. This start, however, wasn't as good. It started right in the first when David DeJesus doubled leading off. A groundout sent him to third, and he scored on Starlin Castro's RBI single. A two-out RBI single by Alfonso Soriano made it 2-0.
One of the more underrated stars for the Dodgers this early in the season has been Jerry Hairston, Jr., and he continued to show his worth in this one. He led off the third with a liner out to left for his second homer of the season, making it 2-1. That was just a part of his big day, as he collected three hits, including a triple, to raise his average to .327.
The Cubbies got that run back in the fourth. It again started with a double, this time by Darwin Barney. With two outs, Billingsley again couldn't get out of the inning, as DeJesus delivered with an RBI triple, and it was 3-1.
The deficit was increased to three in the sixth when some guy named Joe Mather homered... with two outs. No offense or anything, I just have never heard of him before. But anyway, it was now 4-1.
Both teams traded single runs in the seventh. Andre Ethier led off with a double. After going to third on a grounder an out later, Hairston's RBI triple made it 4-2. Bobby Abreu made his Dodger debut with two outs, but struck out looking.
Scott Elbert was put in charge of keeping it a one-run game... and flunked. Tony Campana singled leading off, but was gunned out by A.J. Ellis attempting to steal. But, Castro and Bryan LaHair hit singles, which chased Elbert and brought in the returning Todd Coffey. Castro then stole third and came in on Soriano's RBI double, and it was 5-2.
To their credit, the Dodgers didn't give up and made this a close game in the eighth. Mark Ellis walked with one down and stole second. It's probably no surprise that the combo of Matt Kemp and Ethier drove in runs, but they did. Kemp had an RBI triple, and he scored on Ethier's sac-fly RBI, making this a whole new ballgame at 5-4.
With Carlos Marmol getting booted from the closer's role, Dale Sveum gave the ball to young Rafael Dolis. He beaned A.J. Ellis with two down, but got Abreu to line out to deep right to end it.
It was a disappointing start for Billingsley, mostly because he just couldn't find the pitches he needed to wiggle out of damage with two outs. He ended up going six innings for eight hits, four runs, three walks, and four strikeouts. The Cubs left 10 men on base, but did have three RBIs with two outs compared to the Dodgers' one.
These last couple of days must have been a whirlwind for Abreu, who instantly because a big bat off the bench. I'm not sure he really expected to get in this one, but sure enough, there he was with two at-bats and some time in left field. Time will tell if he's washed up, but he hit 20 homers and 78 RBIs as little as two years ago, so it's worth a look to see if he can get some big hits again.
Chris Capuano will take the ball on Saturday afternoon, as he looks to get to 4-0. Matt Garza has been pushed back a day to Sunday because of a virus, so the Dodgers will instead face the awful Chris Volstad. Let's hope we're still saying he's awful after the game as well.
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