(Sports Network) - Chad Billingsley makes his second start since returning
from the disabled list on Saturday when the Los Angeles Dodgers and San
Francisco Giants continue a three-game series at AT&T Park.
Billingsley had lost five straight starts before a stint on the DL with a sore
elbow. He returned on Monday to defeat St. Louis and was impressive in doing
so, as he allowed a run and seven hits in six innings.
"Chad was pretty good tonight," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Anything
that got started, he pitched well enough to get out of it. He got enough big
outs and was throwing enough strikes."
Billingsley lost to San Francisco back on June 27 and is 7-6 lifetime against
them with a 3.33 ERA in 36 games (21 starts).
The Giants, meanwhile, will rely on lefty Barry Zito, who is 8-6 with a 3.75
ERA. Zito notched his 11th quality start of the year on Sunday in Philadelphia
when he held the Phillies to three runs on five hits in seven innings, but did
not get a decision in his team's 4-3 loss.
"My focus was a little off in the first inning," said Zito. "Then I was able
to make the adjustment and start throwing strikes."
Since serving up eight runs in only 3 1/3 frames back on June 19, Zito has
pitched to a 2.25 ERA in five starts since.
Zito tossed seven scoreless innings to beat the Dodgers the last time he faced
them, but is 7-9 in 23 games (22 starts) against them with a 3.79 ERA.
Los Angeles picked up a game in the standings in Friday's opener thanks to
their newest acquisition, as Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run, go-ahead homer in
the 10th inning to help the Dodgers to a 5-3 win.
San Francisco trailed 3-1 in the eighth when Melky Cabrera singled, Angel
Pagan doubled, and Brandon Belt followed with a base hit up the middle to knot
the score.
In the 10th, Sergio Romo (3-2) retired to first two batters he faced, then
walked Andre Ethier on a close, full-count fastball. Ramirez capitalized by
belting an 0-1 slider into the seats in left center for his 15th home run of
the season and his first as a member of the Dodgers.
"That ball was crushed," said Los Angeles catcher A.J. Ellis. "You notice in
batting practice, watching Hanley hit, it's just a different sound coming off
of his bat. That ball was hit and our dugout erupted."
Shawn Tolleson (1-0) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the win and Kenley Jansen
worked around a pair of singles in the 10th to notch his 20th save of the
season.
The Dodgers halted a three-game losing streak and now trail San Francisco by
two games in the National League West.
Despite Friday's loss San Francisco has won four of seven from the Dodgers
this season.
The Sports Network