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Billingsley helps his own cause as Dodgers beat Reds

Jun 6, 2011 - 12:44 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Chad Billingsley overcame a mediocre effort on the mound with a big day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI to carry the Dodgers to a series win over the Reds with Sunday's 9-6 victory.

"Anything I can do to make a difference in the outcome of a game, I try to do it," said Billingsley (5-4), who went the minimum five innings to earn the win, surrendering four runs on eight hits and three walks.

Matt Kemp added a two-run shot a day after his two-homer, six-RBI performance helped even the three-game set in an 11-8 comeback win in 11 innings.

Travis Wood (4-4) gave up a career-high eight runs on eight hits and five walks in 4 2/3 innings for the Reds, who have split the first six games of their nine-game homestand to remain at .500 for the season.

"I think we're a lot better than that. I should say I know we're a lot better than that," said Cincinnati's Chris Heisey. "We played better than that last year and I think we're going to continue finding ways to improve."

Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto each drove in two in a losing cause.

Cincinnati had the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth, but Josh Lindblom limited the damage to Heisey's sacrifice fly to seal the win.

The Dodgers knocked Wood around early and often. Jamey Carroll led off the game with a walk and later scored on Andre Ethier's sacrifice fly, and Kemp followed with his 16th home run of the year for a 3-0 cushion.

"I feel really good right now. I feel real comfortable. I think a lot of us are at the plate," Kemp said.

Drew Stubbs opened the bottom half with a long ball, only to get countered in the second by Billingsley, who took his counterpart over the wall in left on the 11th pitch of the at-bat for his second career homer.

Billingsley loaded the bases in the home turn and gave up a two-run single to Phillips before retiring the final two batters to maintain a 4-3 lead.

Wood couldn't keep the Reds close, yielding three more runs in the third on a two-RBI double to Rod Barajas and a bases-loaded walk to Billingsley.

Votto pulled the Reds within 7-4 with a run-scoring groundout in the fourth, but Billingsley got the run back in the fifth with an opposite-field double that one-hopped the wall in right and plated James Loney.

Jerry Sands' single to center scored Ethier in sixth, and Votto knocked in Phillips with a base hit to right in the bottom half.

John Ely, in his first career appearance out of the bullpen, allowed the latter run, then pitched the next two innings. He was pulled after giving up a leadoff walk in the ninth.

Game Notes

Wood was unbeaten in his previous six outings...The Dodgers left 14 runners on base to Cincinnati's 13...Paul Janish had three hits for Cincinnati...Over the last 15 games, the Reds bullpen has pitched 65 innings...The Reds host the Cubs to close their homestand, while the Dodgers head to Philadelphia to start a three-game series on Monday...Since 2006, the Dodgers are 28-10 against the Reds...Game time: 3:50.