• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Six-run third helps Dodgers rip Cubs

Apr 23, 2011 - 12:52 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer and drove in four overall, helping the Dodgers clobber the Cubs, 12-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

A.J. Ellis had a two-run single during the third inning, when Los Angeles scored six runs to gain control.

Chad Billingsley (2-1) gave up seven hits and walked three in 6 1/3 innings, but allowed only two runs (one earned) to help the Dodgers win their third consecutive game.

Cubs starter Casey Coleman (1-1) didn't make it out of the third inning, surrendering six hits and walking four while giving up all six runs.

"There are times when you're inconsistent and that was definitely today," Coleman said. "On a day like this, you definitely just need to pound the strike zone."

Kosuke Fukudome had three hits to lead Chicago, which split a doubleheader against San Diego on Wednesday.

After inclement weather delayed the game 74 minutes, the Dodgers built a big lead in the third thanks to a steady stream of hits. Jamey Carroll started the rally with a one-out double, moved to third on a single by Casey Blake, then scored when Andre Ethier smacked a single to center. Ethier also extended his hitting streak to 19 games on the play.

After Matt Kemp went down swinging, Uribe's base hit to center plated Blake. Coleman walked James Loney and Jerry Sands to force in a run and keep the bases loaded for Ellis, whose single to center brought in two.

"He had kind of been working me with fastballs away the first at-bat, then the second at-bat was a lot more breaking balls," Ellis said. "He left a breaking ball up, and I was able to square one up to center."

Billingsley got in on the rally with an RBI single to left, which gave the Dodgers a 6-0 cushion and forced a pitching change.

Jeff Stevens got the Cubs out of the inning, but gave up a two-run homer to Uribe in the fourth.

Chicago scored in the bottom half, when Aramis Ramirez scored on a passed ball, but the Cubs never caught up.

Uribe tacked on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Darwin Barney hit a run- scoring single in the seventh for the Cubs.

The Dodgers added three more runs in the ninth, highlighted by a two-run blast by pinch-hitter Marcus Thames.

Game Notes

LA went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position...Marlon Byrd tripled for the Cubs...John Grabow tossed two scoreless innings for Chicago, and was the only Cubs pitcher not to give up a run...The Dodgers won four of the seven matchups last season.