The script was practically the same as the night before. The White Sox built a comfortable early lead, only to see the Dodgers come all the way back.
The difference? The White Sox were the ones who pushed ahead soon after and didn't look back.
The Dodgers battled back from a four-run hole, but went hitless over the final five innings in falling to the White Sox, 5-4. The Giants fell again with Tim Lincecum on the mound, so the lead in the NL West remains at four games.
Chad Billingsley got through the first in order, but in true Billingsley fashion, got hit around in the second. Paul Konerko doubled leading off, and went to third on Alex Rios's single. Rios soon stole second with an out, and both scored on a two-run single by Alexei Ramirez. With two outs, Philip Humber hit an RBI single (of course) to make it 3-0.
The Sox tacked on another run the next inning. Singles by Gordon Beckham and Adam Dunn greeted Billingsley. A slick strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play came next, as Konerko K'd and Beckham was gunned at third. How would Billingsley use this momentum? By watching Rios smoke an RBI triple to make it 4-0. Figures.
The Dodgers didn't wait around long to make a new game of this, as they put up four runs in the bottom of the third. Billingsley actually had two hits, and the first came on a single leading off. Singles by Dee Gordon and Andre Ethier loaded the bases with one out. Jerry Hairston, Jr. hit in the cleanup spot, and his sac-fly RBI to deep center made it 4-1.
The next three hitters chipped away little by little, as Bobby Abreu, A.J. Ellis, and James Loney all collected RBI singles to make it a whole new game at 4-4.
In the fifth, Billingsley coughed up the lead, though to be fair, it wasn't completely his fault. It was his fault when he beaned Ramirez leading off, who then stole second. Orlando Hudson, who might be one of the worst hitters in baseball at this point in his career, hit the easiest grounder ever to Hairston at second, who booted it. With one out, Alejandro De Aza's fielder's choice scored Ramirez, and it was 5-4.
The offense for the Dodgers went largely silent after that. Billngsley again hit a leadoff single in the fourth, and Ethier walked with two outs. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch, but Humber got Hairston to pop to short for the final out.
About the only other threat of the night came in the seventh. Elian Herrera walked to start it, and swiped second as Ethier struck out looking on a bad call. Hairston and Abreu could only weakly pop up, though.
Addison Reed went through the Dodgers in order for his eighth save, striking out Herrera for the final out.
Maybe the Dodgers just didn't have enough left in the tank for another rally, as they certainly expended a lot of energy doing so on Friday. I think this is a time we need to keep in mind just how many injuries they have, which is why you've gotten real used to seeing guys like Hairston, Herrera, and Tony Gywnn getting lots of PT. Don't get me wrong, they've been great, but they probably are a bit worn down too.
Billingsley scuffled for the most part again, which is absolutely no surprise anymore. He went six innings for eight hits, five runs (four earned), one walk, and four strikeouts. Not terrible by any means, but not very good either. He was awesome in his last two starts, but once again just can't seem to string together any sort of positive stretch. It's just not gonna happen.
If there's something to nitpick about the Dodgers, it's that they've lost seven of their last nine home games. Remember, they were swept by the Brewers in four at the end of May, which makes this stat look ugly. A win on Sunday would at least give them their first home series win since taken two of three from the Astros before the Brewers' series.
The final game of the homestand will see Chris Capuano take the mound. He's struggled a bit in June, though it was only natural be suffer somewhat of a letdown after his incredible start. He'll go against young Jose Quintana.
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