Dodgers Want to Wrap Up Road Trip on a Winning Note

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Chad Billingsley (3-4, 3.80) Blake Beavan (3-5, 5.22)

Dodgers Lineup: vs. Seattle

Gordon 6

Herrera 5

Ethier 9

Hairston DH

Abreu 7

Loney 3

Ellis 2

Kennedy 4

Gwynn 8

The Dodgers will finally finish up this long 10-game road trip today before heading back home to face their cross-town rivals. So far they are 6-3 on this road stretch, and they’d like to pick up one more series win by defeating Seattle today at Safeco Field. We knew this road trip wasn’t going to be easy. It started out rough and Rockie when the Dodgers lost two of three in Colorado. Then the Dodgers went on to Philadelphia, usually a very tough venue for them, and came away with a four-game sweep of the Phillies. After celebrating with some cheese steaks, the Dodgers flew all the way to the Pacific Northwest to play the Seattle Mariners in Interleague Play. Once again we think back about the Dodgers’ troubles against American League teams in their past. Game one was historically horrendous for the Dodgers to say the least. Kevin Millwood & Co. no-hit them in combined fashion. Yet the never-say-die Dodgers of 2012 wouldn’t let that one game define the entirety of the series. Yesterday they bounced back nicely due to the heroics of Jerry Hairston Jr. with his career-high 5 RBI night and the twelve strikeouts of Clayton Kershaw who managed to dominate while nursing an injured foot. That brings us to today. The Dodgers would like nothing more than to win one more, say so long to the Space Needle, and head back to the comforts of Dodger Stadium.

Chad Billingsley finally captured a win last time out versus Cliff Lee and the Phillies. It was his first win since the beginning of April. He pitched 7 solid innings while allowing 6 hits. He only allowed 1 earned run during the first inning, and he settled down nicely thereafter. So far this season, Bills has a 1.40 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 68.2 innings pitched. If Bills can win this rubber game in Seattle, he will even his W-L record and secure his second W in a row. He’s only pitched 5 innings against Seattle in his career with a 0-0 record with a 3.60 ERA. Only Chone Figgins, Miguel Olivo, and Brendan Ryan have ever faced Bills.

Blake Beavan is a big 6’7″ right-hander who made his MLB debut last July 3rd. He lost

last time out against the Angels. He went 5 innings, and allowed 6 earned runs off 10 hits (including three homeruns). He has allowed 11 homeruns in his 11 starts this season. Beavan has never faced the Dodgers. Only Bobby Abreu, the former AL player, has ever had an at bat against him. In his 10 at bats versus Beavan, Bobby is only hitting .100. The veteran leader of the team will be starting Sunday after getting a day off on Saturday with a lefty on the mound. Since joining the Dodgers, Bobby Blue is hitting .317 with a homerun and 9 RBI. He’s been a welcome addition at a time when Juan Rivera has been disabled and a bit disappointing so far this season.

Last night Juan Uribe went 1 for 3 with a RBI single in his second rehab game with the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He is expected to play with Rancho today as well before being activated.

The Dodgers remain 4 games ahead of the Giants in the standings. The Giants will be playing their rubber game versus the Rangers today.

The afternoon game will begin at 1:10 pm, and it will be televised on Prime Ticket. Stick around for the postgame wrap, and let us know what you thought of the game in the comments section.