For the second straight night, the Dodgers built an early lead in Arizona, only to have it slip away.
And for the fifth straight start, Chad Billingsley proved why the Dodgers desperately need to trade him.
The Diamondbacks got four runs in the fifth and sixth to overcome a 2-0 deficit, and went on to defeat the Dodgers, 5-3. Old friend James McDonald overpowered the Giants, so the Dodgers still have a 1/2 game lead in the NL West.
If there's one thing the Dodgers have been great at this season, it's scoring in the first inning. Surprise, surprise... they did it again. Luis Cruz has been a mainstay in the lineup, and he doubled with one out. Jerrry Hairston, Jr. hit in the #3 spot again, and he cranked a two-run shot to left to make it 2-0.
In six games hitting in the #3 spot this year, Hairston's average is .333 with two homers and four RBIs. That's ususally Matt Kemp's spot, so it will be interesting to see if Hairston stays there for some games and Kemp hits cleanup instead. Or at least until Andre Ethier returns as well.
That's about it as highlights go. It's not like the Dodgers didn't have a chance to win. In fact, it was quite the opposite considering Billingsley was scoreless through four. His only blemishes were a pair of doubles surrendered: Paul Goldschmidt in the second, Aaron Hill in the fourth. Both were stranded.
Then came the fifth, and with it came the big old wall that Billingsley ALWAYS hits in the middle innings. Seriously, was there ever any doubt? Uh, no.
Miguel Montero started things with a double. A single by Geoff Blum put runners on the corners. Gerardo Parra then stepped up and stroked a two-run double down the left field line to tie the game.
Things weren't over yet, as after a grounder got Parra to third, Stephen Drew lifted a sac-fly RBI to put the DBacks up 3-2.
The Dodgers went down in order to start the sixth, and Billingsley wasn't done giving up runs yet. Justin Upton, who's been the victim of the home boo birds lately, doubled leading off. Two fly balls got him in, with Goldschmidt collecting the RBI, and it was 4-2.
A.J. Ellis tried to jumpstart a Dodgers' rally in the seventh, as he found just enough room in left for a leadoff homer. It was his seventh of the season, and put the Dodgers down by one.
Josh Lindblom relieved Billingsley and got through the seventh unscathed. He then got the first couple of outs in the eighth before Jason Kubel hit a solo shot into right, and it was now 5-3.
J.J. Putz came in for the save opportunity, but Adam Kennedy greeted him with a walk. Ellis then grounded one to short in which Hill made a terrific catch and turn to complete the double play. Bobby Abreu's pinch-hit single went nowhere as Juan Rivera struck out to end the game. It was Putz's 16th save.
Billingsley continued his regression even more with his fifth straight loss. During this span, he has a 6.21 ERA. It's not like he's giving many free passes, as his strikeout to walk ratio is 29:5. But, when hitters make contact, it's usually bad news, as he's giving up 41 hits in 29 innings. And needless to say, that's just not going to get it done.
I know the offense hasn't exactly scored a bunch of runs for him (14 runs in 5 games), but they have given him leads that he continues to bumble away. And that's been the story all along - good for the start of the game, awful once the middle innings hit. And it will continue to be that way until the Dodgers decide they've had enough.
Speaking of the offense, it's probably the last time we'll see James Loney in the cleanup spot. I know he's hit better lately, but Don Mattingly made an awful decision to put him there considering he was 0-for-4 with three K's, dropping his average to .247. The returns of Kemp and Ethier can't come fast enough!
For the Dodgers, the goal is simple on Sunday: win and finish the first half in first place. They've got a great pitcher on the mound for that to happen in Chris Capuano. He'll be looking for his 10th win of the season already, one shy of the 11 he had all of last season with the Mets.
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