The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a close win against the Cincinnati Reds by the score of 3-1.  Jeff Kent went 3-4 in the game with a rbi double to finish the game with one rbi.  Juan Pierre and Russell Martin both had one rbi in the game as well.

Chad Billinglsey got the start on the mound for the Dodgers but only pitched 6 1/3 inning while he gave up five hits and one run.  It was good enough to get the win, but it would have been nice to see Chad throw a few more innings and save the bullpen.

Joe Beimel and Jonathan Broxton both pitched in relief of Billinglsey and they both did a great job by not allowing any runs to score.  Takashi Saito came in closed things down in the ninth to record his ninth save of the season.  That is exactly what you want your bullpen to do.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got hammered pretty badly on Thursday afternoon by the San Diego Padres.  The Padres defeated the Dodgers 9-0 after getting up 5-0 after the first inning.   Once you are in a big hole like that, it is very hard to get any momentum going to attempt a big comeback and that is what happened to the Dodgers.

Hiroki Kuroda got hit hard for five hits and six runs over 2 1/3 innings.  Kuroda took the loss and is now 3-6 on the season.  Kuroda put his team in a big hole and as a starting pitcher you can never do that and expect to get a win.

Chan Ho Park did throw 2 1/3 innings of relief after Kuroda left the game and did not allow one run.  But soon after Park left the game the next two Dodger relievers gave up runs.  Hong-Chih Kuo gave up one run while Scott Proctor gave up two runs.

At the plate, the Dodgers stuggled all game long so there really isn’t anything to blog about there.

The Dodgers will now travel to Detroit to take on the Tigers in a three game series over the weekend.  Hopefully they will get out of this slump and beat up on the Tigers.

Dodgers Blog

The Los Angeles Dodgers couldn’t solve San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Wolf on Wednesday night as the Padres defeated the Dodgers 4-1.  The Dodgers struggled all night long at the plate and were only able to record five hits in the game and one run.

The one run in the game came in the fourth inning on a Andy LaRoche solo home run.  Other then that one hit, the Dodgers struggled all game long and never made much of a threat to the Padres.

Chad Billingsley took the loss after pitching seven innings and giving up eight hits and all four of the Padres runs.  Billingsley gave up two home runs early in the game which was a supirse because it is so hard to hit home runs at Petco.  Hong-Chih Kuo pitched the eighth inning and did not have any problems for the Dodgers.

The Doders and Padres will play on Thursday which will be the rubber game of the three game series.

Dodgers Blog

Dodgers came home slept threw the day after traveling threw every known time zone in the us. The Dodgers instead of eating hotel food had a nice home cooked meal and headed out to the ballpark. Where they preceded to destroy the young Rookie Greg Reynolds as they produced six runs on seven hits in 5 innings as the young rookie fell to 0 and 3. Hoping to not being out dueled by a kid Derek Lowe pitched a very strong game returning to good form. Pitching 8 innings with 5 hits and 1 run only with proctor finishing up the 9^th.

Seeing Derek Lowe Return to a form unseen since his days in Boston brought a glimmer of hope for the rotation. Another thing unseen in a little while was run support brought on by Matt Kemp who lit the Los Angeles Sky on fire with 2 doubles and home run. Jeff Kent not to be shown up got into the home run action blasting one putting him ahead of Andruw Jones with his 370^th home run. Only one starter did not have a hit and surprise surprise it is Chin-lung Hu great glove not bat but a work horse. Filling the void left by Furcal and Kent (when he takes the day off) him and maza play partially well however there non existences of bats are a cause for concern.

It’s hard to call the dodgers losing streak over I hear people saying the Mets are fine now. I guess you have to beat up on a team lower then you to make you feel better. Which is exactly what the dodgers did tonight against the Rockies. The Rockies who have the worst road record in the league hate to leave there stadium despite it being a hitter ball park they’ll take the home runs over loses. A team that was in the World Series last year now given the fact they are plagued with injuries are still very bad. I told the world not to believe the hype that the Rockies were not what everyone thinks they are. I even wrote that in another blog before the year…of course I also picked the Royals to win the central.

Who cares a win is a win they’ll take it however they can this one was by pure force. Chad Billinglsey will take the mound tomorrow where he hopes to pitch another gem. The gem has a potential to turn to a piece of coal should the dodgers not be able to provide run support like in NY. Billinglsey who I can honestly say I never liked to the mound is very good. Now I never not liked him as a person but as pitcher last year I did not like him but now I’m coming around. He’s a strong young with a fastball of gold. However when he gets behind he tends to go to the fastball to often. Usually losing control and just throwing for speed which tends to get him in trouble.

But for now we and the dodgers soak up the glory that is a win. Sleeping a little easier yelling just a little lower and hitting just a little harder…

Chad Billingsley pitched a superb game going 7 innings with only 4 hits and no runs. The Dodgers seemed poised to win again with Jonathan Broxton getting on the mound. People were already closing the book on the Mets who left 23 men on base all game. But Broxton did not have the stuff today giving up a double then a home run to Carlos Beltran. To tie the game then leaving Broxton in in hopes of saving some face. Then Carlos Delgado gets a single then a sac bun and a intentional walk later Broxton gives up a single to Fernando Tatis and the Mets move into the lead.

Then comes the in my opion best closer in the mlb Billy Wagner. He stuck out the side and the Dodgers lose another heartbreaker. To fall below 500. The good news however is that the Diamondbacks are within a slump as well. Leaving the dodgers on 3 and half games behind first place. Someone is looking down on the dodgers and guiding them threw because I don’t know how any teams could lose this much and still have a shot at first place.

The Dodgers will figure out how to kill the rest of the day. Then tomorrow they will face off with the Mets for the last time in the series. I believe Hiroki Kuroda will take the mound tomorrow he will be opposed by Claudio Vargas. Kuroda’s main task will be keeping clam threw the 5^th inning. He tends to get there with strong pitching but when he arrives in the 5^th he starts to take on water.

Also again the name of the game will be hitting as in every game. James Loney needs to get on the ball going 0 for 4 today the whole team needs to step up. Going 1 for 4 is unacceptable especially when the entire team is 1 for 4. No one will pick the dodgers up to help them instead the coaching staff will stand on there throat and force them to become better. Not at all the all star break yet but seems like this season if not saved soon is already over…

With the dodgers finishing up the series in Chicago the dodgers sent Derek Lowe was sent to the mound. Threw seven innings the dodgers kept the game intact and it looks like finally Derek Lowe finally get a win his last coming on April 23^rd.With Jonathan Broxton striking out the side in the 8^th everything was in order till the 9^th.Takashi Saito who has been solid for most of the year only giving up 3 saves in 11 tries. Strides to the mound but control was a issue for the usually controlled Saito. Loading up the bases and was able to save face by only allowing one run in 7 batters faced.

Going into extra innings Chan Ho Park was brought in to pitch the 10^th.However Mike Fontenot with one out got a base hit all the way to the wall putting him in scoring position. With Alfonso Soriano going 2 for 5 with 2 strikeouts there was no reason to not go after him. But Park Could not get around him and Soriano hit the walk off base hit leaving the score 2 to 1 in favor of the cubs. A just plain heart breaking lose for the dodgers today again like last night leaving 17 men on base this. Only scoring in the 4^th inning because of a walk to Blake Dewitt with only seven hit’s the bats fell silent for the dodgers and there pitchers again.

The Dodgers pack there bags take all the soaps and shampoos and towels from there hotel and get on a plane. From there at around 3 in the morning they will land in New York where they face the only team in the national league struggling more then themselves. Brad Penny will take the mound and hope to put the Dodgers on the right track. Both Teams tomorrow night will be looking to take advantage of the other in hopes of right the path each teams is on.

While the windy city of Chicago lived up to it’s name tonight.  It was the Cubs that blew away the Blue Crew this chilly night in Chi Town.  With Media hype Surronding HIROKI KURODA and KOSUKE FUKUDOME they did not disapoint with KURODA going 7 with two runs one earned with seven hits and a loses.  While FUKUDOME went 3 for 2 with a rbi and a couple good plays in right field.  When in a corner you should be able to turn to your bullpen however this was not so for the dodgers tonight.  Like CLAYTON KERSHAW’S  first start the bullpen could not hold the LOU PINIELLA daring cubs.

In a game were a warm cup of coffee was a premium so to were runs.  Knowing this PINIELLA was a bit more daring with his base runners it happened to pay off as the score as evidence.  But when you look around for people to blame in this game you can not blame only one person.  By evidence of the box score with only one player getting two hits that being ANDRE EITHER as well as the dodgers leaving 14 men on base.  In the 8th inning with there best chance JAMES LONEY could not make contact with the bases loaded and when he did he hit just like last night a foul ball that danced with the foul line.

The Dodgers take the bus back to the hotel tonight and tomorrow they hope that DEREK LOWE can shake his poor pitching.  He will be contested by CARLOS ZAMBRANO the considered ace of the cubs staff.  Derek will need to keep his sinker ball low and will have to again lean on the shaky dodger hitting.  We also will hopefully see the Return of JEFF KENT who was a last second scratch due to back spasms tonight.

Dodgers Blog

The Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a good game on Tuesday night as they held the Cincinnati Reds to only six hits and one run in the game.  That is how you shut down an opposing team and pick up a good win!  The Dodgers ended up beating the Reds by the score of 4-1.

Chad Billingsley threw seven innings and only gave up four hits while striking out seven batters to pick up the win for the Dodgers.  Billingsley is now 4-5 on the season.  Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless eighth inning after Billingsley left the game.  Joe Beimel did give up one run in the ninth inning before closer Takashi Saito was brough in to get the last out and get his seventh save of the season.

Juan Pierre, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, and Billingsley all had one rbi each for the Dodgers.  The Dodgers scored two runs in the second and seventh innings.

Dodgers Blog

Blake DeWitt delivered a rbi single in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night by the score of 6-5.  The Dodgers had got two walks and a hit in the inning before DeWitt came to the plate and singled to score Russell Martin.

DeWitt led the Dodgers at the plate with two rbi in the game.  James Loney and Matt Kemp both had one rbi in the game as well.

Starting pitcher Brad Penny lasted six innings as he gave up nine hits and five runs in the game.  Penny gave up a two run home run to Adam Dunn in the game as well.  Penny wasn’t his usual self as he didn’t have great command and couldn’t locate hit pitches very well.

Joe Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito threw the final three innings of the game for the Dodgers.  Saito ended up picking up the win which improves his record to 2-1.

Dodgers Blog

The Los Angeles Dodgers used a big seventh inning where they scored six runs to come back and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2.  The Dodgers pounded out 11 hits as they scored the seven runs.  That is what happens when you have three home runs in the game.

Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent, and Gary Bennett all hit home runs in the seventh inning.  Bennett smoked a three run shot while Jones and Kent both had solo home runs.  Bennett finished the game with four rbi.  Russell Martin also had one rbi in the game for the Dodgers.

Chad Billingsley pitched seven innings and only gave up three hits and one run to pick up the win.  It was Billingsley’s third win of the season as he improved to 3-5.  Jonathan Broxton and Cory Wade pitched the final two innings.  Broxton did give up a solo home run in his inning of work.

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