Thursday, May 14, 2009

Rise And Shine, It's Dodger Baseball Time

Your marquee matchup, courtesy of dodgers.com...
Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers (5-1, 2.45 ERA)

Billingsley gets his rematch with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, seven months after his playoff debacle. In his last start, he took his first loss by allowing the Giants three runs in seven innings, after five innings of a scoreless duel with Barry Zito. Billingsley wasn't as sharp as he was in most of his five wins, as the Giants had baserunners in all but one inning with eight hits and four walks. The Giants scored on two sacrifice flies and an infield single.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies (1-2, 6.17 ERA)

The last time Hamels faced the Dodgers, he picked up the win in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, earning MVP honors in the process. Hamels has had rotten luck this season, but pitched well and without incident Friday against the Braves, allowing just three hits and two runs in six innings to pick up his first win of the season. The Phillies are hoping it is the jump start Hamels needed to a better 2009.
Bills needs to win this one, and get the media off his back for last October. He was very good all of last season, and has looked exceptionally well to start 2009; however, he can't seem to escape what happened in Philadelphia over seven months ago. A win here would go a long way.

7 comments:

Doc said...

Dodgers survive a nail-biter. Troncoso stepped up big again to shut the door on the Phillies.

Bills vs Hamels was a good show, go figure that neither figure into the decision.

Bills looks like a Cy Young candidate.

Jonathan said...

Great game- Alot of monkeys off of the backs.

Brandon said...

Jonathan, welcome. Thanks for the comment.

It was nice to go in and take 2 out of 3 against them. Confidence builder for the fall.

Nat said...

I liked seeing some 2-strike hits by Dodger hitters. I'm sure Mattingly had them prepped for Hamels.

UCLADodger said...

Just bookmarked your blog. I enjoy it alot. Great stuff man.

Doc said...

Mattingly seems to be doing a fine job with the hitters so far. I think Joe has surrounded himself with great coaches. I always thought it was a good move to keep Honeycutt as the pitching coach. Bowa and Duncan know how to fire these guys up. There seems to be a good mix, which is important since Manny has appearently abondoned the team for the time being.

These young players won an important series and Torre did well placing his players in position to succeed.

Brandon said...

UCLA,

Thanks for bookmarking. I hope I can live up to the pressure.