Chad Billingsley shines as Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Cincinnati Reds 9-6 – MLB Update
Chad Billingsley put in a brilliant performance to help the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Cincinnati Reds 9-6 and clinch the three game series at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati on Sunday, June 5.
Billingsley drove in a homer for three runs, as Matt Kemp had his third two-run homer to extend the team’s lead and subsequent win.
"Guys have been swinging the bats well lately," said Billingsley, batting .304 after his big game. "We jumped out on them early. I didn't have my best stuff from the get-go. I knew it was going to be a battle."
Andre Ethier provided a solid start in the very first inning with his sacrifice fly hit to left followed by the magnificent two-run homer of Kemp. Travis Wood, who has recently undergone increasingly uncertain times as the starting pitcher, was once again
subject to hits.
Wood gave up three hits and allowed three runs. However, Stubbs was quick to homer to centre to score a run once Billingsley came out to pitch. Billingsley had a plan to show his brilliance to strengthen the Dodgers’ offence.
Billingsley homered to left in the second inning to triple the Dodgers’ lead in the second inning. However, he was then taken to task by Brandon Phillips who drove in a two-run homer to bring the lead down to 4-3 in the second inning.
The floodgates of runs did not stop, as both the teams were putting concerted efforts to take their lead up to an extent that remained beyond reach. Rod Barajas did it for the Dodgers in the third inning, as he drove in two runs to make it 6-3 for the Dodgers
If that was not enough, Billingsley got another single to not only be a good pitcher, but also a prolific hitter. Wood allowed the seventh run in third inning, compounding the Reds’ problems.
The 7-3 lead was brought down to 7-4 by Joey Votto in the fourth inning when he grounded out to first, allowing Stubbs to score. The career high score of Billingsley would overshadow his pitching.
Billingsley doubled to deep right to score his third and the team’s eighth run in the fifth inning. Jerry Sands made it a 9-4 lead for the team. The Reds’ hitters then tried their best to reverse the score but they failed.
Votto got a single in the sixth inning which made the score 9-5. However, John Ely then threw strong eighth inning to contain the Reds’ offence. Getting into the ninth inning, Ely allowed only a run to seal the 9-6 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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