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Billingsley puts Dodgers back on track

Jul 26, 2008 - 6:11 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Chad Billingsley took advantage of one of the worst offenses in baseball to help stabilize the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation.

Billingsley pitched 7 2/3 strong innings as the Dodgers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday.

Los Angeles, which entered with a National League-best 3.81 ERA, was pounded for 25 runs as it dropped two of three games to the Colorado Rockies before returning home.

"It's good to be back here at home and take the first game in the series," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "We need to play better here and win more ballgames."

Billingsley (10-9) got the staff back on track, allowing just two runs and five hits while walking three and striking out four against the Nationals, who came into this series as the second-lowest scoring team in the major leagues with 386 runs.

"I just wanted to keep us in the game and give us a chance to win the game," Billingsley said. "I felt good tonight and had good command of my pitches."

Despite its dismal offense, Washington struck first as Willie Harris gave the team a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

"We got to him (Billingsley) early but he settled down and pitched a good game," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "They have a good staff and we just need to come out (on Saturday) and play hard."

The Dodgers erased the deficit with three runs in the sixth.

Juan Pierre, who was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day after being sidelined since June 29 with a torn ligament in his left knee, opened the frame with a single to left field and advanced to second on a base hit by Matt Kemp.

"This was big, and how we do things and it's a good indication for our team," Torre said. "Whenever you can get a guy like him (Pierre) back in the lineup it always helps the team."

Russell Martin was hit by a pitch from Nationals starter John Lannan (6-10) to load the bases for Jeff Kent, who lined out to shortstop. But Nomar Garciaparra capitalized, stroking a two-run single to left-center field before James Loney capped the inning with an RBI groundout to second base.

"My stuff felt good tonight, I just ran into trouble and had to make good pitches to get out of it," Lannan said.

Lannan allowed just three runs and six hits in seven innings but once again fell victim to the Nationals' lowly offense. The lefthander has been provided with a league-low 39 runs in 20 starts this season.

Ryan Zimmerman narrowed the lead to 3-2, notching an RBI single with two outs in the eighth inning. Austin Kearns followed with a base hit to right, ending Billingsley's night.

"It's just good to be back and help the team put runs on the board," said Zimmerman, who returned from a small labral tear in his left shoulder on Tuesday. "We just want to come out and be aggressive and put pressure on the other team."

Jonathan Broxton struck out Jesus Flores to end the threat and retired the side in order in the ninth to post his third save of the season.