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Billingsley leads Dodgers over Nats

Jul 25, 2011 - 12:15 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chad Billingsley worked seven innings of one-run ball to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 win over the Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game series.

Billingsley (9-8) had some trouble in the first inning, throwing 38 pitches, but gave up only one run and cruised through the rest of his outing. He gave up two hits, fanned 10 batters, walked two and has won three of his last five decisions.

Javy Guerra pitched a perfect ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.

Aaron Miles slapped a two run single and James Loney collected the other RBI for the Dodgers, who have won three of four after dropping four consecutive games.

Michael Morse accounted for the lone run with an RBI single for the Nationals, who have dropped five of their past seven contests.

Jason Marquis (8-5) tossed six innings in a losing effort, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out two and walking four.

Los Angeles put runners on first and second in its first at-bat and Miles smacked a two-run single to give the Dodgers the lead for good at 2-1. Loney grounded out to end the inning.

"All I did was hit the ball up the middle," Miles said. "Matt (Kemp) put on his Superman cape and scored. He's been doing that for us all year."

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the third on walks to Rafael Furcal and Miles and an infield single by Matt Kemp. Loney followed and grounded into a fielder's choice to score Furcal and spot Los Angeles a 3-1 advantage.

Earlier, the Nationals opened the scoring in their first at-bat. Roger Bernadina led off the game with a walk and Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch to give the Nats runners on first and second with no outs. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a single to left to load the bases. Morse then ripped an RBI single to give the Nats an early lead but Billingsley battled back to strike out the next three hitters to stay out of a huge inning and limit the damage.

"The bats went silent after the first," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "I don't know how to explain it, our hitters are too good for that to happen."

Game Notes

Los Angeles is 11-12 against the National League East while the Nationals are 12-12 against NL West opponents.