This was big. After losing three straight to the Padres, the Dodgers lead in the NL West was reduced to a single game. Fortunately the Dodgers got it going and the Padres lost two of three this weekend so the lead is now two games.
The Dodgers lost their fourth straight game on Friday. The Dodgers had a 7-5 lead heading into the sixth but a run that inning and another one in the eighth sent the game into extra frames. Each team scored in the eleventh but the Diamondbacks finally put the game away when Orlando Hudson hit a two run shot in the bottom of the fifteenth.
Greg Maddux was only okay in the start. Jon Broxton and Takashi Saito both blew saves and Aaron Sele took the loss. J.D. Drew homered twice and drove in four runs and Russ Martin hit his seventh of the season.
Saturday’s gave was scary because Derek Lowe was hit by a comebacker and left in the fourth. Fortunately he’s okay. Jeff Kent had the big hit in this one. His solo homerun in the top of the ninth broke a 3-3 tie. Nomar Garciapara drove in two runs in the 4-3 win.
Chad Billingsley got the job done yesterday. He gave up two runs on nine hits and he improved to 5-3 on the season. In 14 starts, he has a 3.02 ERA. He’s still having some command problems (50 walks vs. 53 strikeouts) but he’s getting the job done. Wilson Betemit hit a two run homerun and Rafael Furcal had two hits and two RBIs.
Next up is three against the Reds. The Reds are fighting for their lives in the Wild Card mix so they have something to play for.
