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Billingsley pitches gem as Dodgers blank Padres

Jul 1, 2007 - 11:50 PM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Chad Billingsley helped the Los Angeles Dodgers avoid their fifth straight loss to the San Diego Padres.

Billingsley pitched seven scoreless innings to lift the Dodgers to a 5-0 victory over the Padres in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday.

Allowing just three hits with no walks, Billingsley (5-0) had a career-high nine strikeouts in his longest outing of the season.

"I knew I could pitch this well," Billingsley said. "It was just a matter of me settling in and getting back in the groove. I was pounding the outside corner, getting ahead of hitters with first-pitch strikes, getting them 0-2."

The 22-year-old Billingsley, who started for just the third time this season, won his first game as a starter since September 21, 2006.

The righthander gave up seven runs over 7 2/3 innings in his previous two starts after beginning the season in the bullpen.

Showing a level of control that he has rarely shown during in his career, Billingsley threw an economical 88 pitches - 63 of which went for strikes.

"His command was there today," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "He didn't get outside of himself. He was pounding the outside corners."

The Padres threatened in the second after Hiram Bocochica's two-out infield single off Billingsley's leg put runners on the corners. Billingsley, however, was able to get opposing pitcher Justin Germano to fly out and end the inning.

Starting with Germano's flyout, Billingsley retired the last 16 hitters he faced.

"I think the story of today was Billingsley," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We're aware that he has a great arm and great stuff, but today his ability to throw strikes and move the ball in and out was the story of the game. He was impressive, shut us down."

The Dodgers pulled within one game of the Padres in the National League West.

"As recently as this morning, we felt we hadn't seen all that we're capable of," Little said. "We feel like the best part of the season is yet to come."

The Dodgers struck against Germano (5-2) in the third inning. After going hitless in the first two innings, they plated three runs on consecutive two-out RBI singles by Rafael Furcal, Juan Pierre and Russell Martin.

Matt Kemp blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning and Furcal added another in the seventh to extend Los Angeles' advantage to 5-0.

After starting the season unbeaten over his first seven starts, Germano lost his second straight decision. The 24-year-old righthander pitched 6 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs and eight hits. He had three walks and three strikeouts.

"I thought Justin did a good job," Black said. "There are certain days like today that you get a 'W,' but today wasn't one of those days."