Bills Shut-Outs Padres & Guerra Gets Rare Save

Dodgers 1 5 1
Padres    0 5 0
WP- Billingsley (8-7)
LP- Latos (5-10)
S- Guerra (3)

The Dodgers and Padres both only had 5 hits tonight, but the Dodgers managed to squeak by and win with 1 run. Both Billingsley and Latos pitched strong through most of the game, but Latos tired in the 8th and this lead to the Dodgers taking the advantage. A near bullpen meltdown had me on standby for the sure loss, but Javy Guerra redeemed himself in the 9th to pick up a rare save for the Dodgers.

Bills allows only a single to Venable in the 1st inning, and Latos send down the Dodgers in order in the bottom half.

Rizzo reaches on a Uribe throwing error in the 2nd, but San Diego doesn't capitalize on it. The Dodgers only get a Loney single in the 2nd inning.

Bills walks Venable in the 3rd, but gets Bartlett to hit into a double play to end the inning. Tony Gwynn singles in the 3rd, but Latos ends up striking out the side getting Ellis, Bills, and Hit Machine to whiff.

In the 4th, Headley doubles, O-Dog walks, but Maybin hits into a double play to end the threat. The Dodgers go down in order in the bottom half of the 4th.

In the 5th, Johnson singles, Latos bunts Johnson over to 2nd, Venable is intentionally walked, but Bills gets Bartlett to ground out. The Dodgers once again go down 1-2-3 and Ellis and Bills both strikeout.

Bills strikes out Ludwick and Maybin in the 6th. The Dodgers only manage a Dre walk in the 6th.

Both pitchers have 1-2-3 innings in the 7th, their horns are locked.

Hit Machine Drives in the Winning Run

Bartlett leads off the 8th with another double. They intentionally walk Headley, but get Ludwick to pop-out, and Hudson to ground out to end any threat. In the bottom of the 8th Latos begins to get weary and allows a lead-off single to Ellis. Oeltjen comes into pinch-run for him. Carroll bunts over Oeltjen to 2nd. Gwynn singles and Oeltjen goes to 3rd. Hit Machine singles in Oeltjen making it 1-0 Dodgers. Spence comes into relieve Latos and strikes out Dre. They intentionally walk Bison, and they get Loney to fly-out to end the inning.


Billingsley goes 8 innings, allowing 4 hits, 0 runs, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts on 115 pitches.

Latos goes 7.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts on 107 pitches.

The 9th inning gets sketchy. Even though the bullpen has been better of late, we all know a 1-run lead is not sufficient for us to be confident in our bullpen's ability to hold such a small lead. Instead of bringing in Kuo who pitched very well last night, Donnie brings in Javy Guerra. Maybin proceeds to lead-off with a double. Guerra hits Rizzo with a pitch. Honeycutt visits the mound. Johnson then is hit by the pitch while he is showing bunt. He should have been called out, but he whines to the ump and they allow him to go to first. At this point the bases are loaded with nobody out. A for sure meltdown is about to ensue. We see Kuo warming in the pen and we are hoping Donnie brings him in. Donnie doesn't bring him in, and allows Guerra to either win it or lose it right then and there. Guerra strikes out Phillips. Out #1. Guerra strikes out Venable. Out #2. Barlett flies out to Matt Kemp. Out #3. Phew. Guerra redeems himself and picks up the save.

So the Dodgers barely beat San Diego, but hey we'll take the win! Tomorrow Rubby De La Rosa goes to the mound in a 1:10pm game. Go Blue:)