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Dodgers try to snap 6-game slide in finale with O's

Apr 21, 2013 - 3:41 PM (Sports Network) - With Chad Billingsley out due to elbow pain, the Los Angeles Dodgers turn to right-hander Stephen Fife on Sunday afternoon as they try to snap a six-game slide and avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles.

Billingsley, who opened the season on the disabled list due to a bruised right finger, returned to the DL Sunday morning because of right elbow pain. He didn't pitch after Aug. 24 of last season due to an injury to the same elbow.

In need of a starter, the Dodgers recalled Stephen Fife from Triple-A Albuquerque. The 26-year-old made five starts with Los Angeles last season, going 0-2 despite a solid 2.70 earned run average. He did not allow more than two runs in any of his outings, but pitched more than five innings only twice.

After making three starts this season in Triple-A, Fife will look to get the Dodgers on track. Los Angeles is on its longest losing streak since dropping seven in a row from June 24-30 and was swept in Saturday's doubleheader at Camden Yards following a rain out the previous day.

The Dodgers were outslugged 7-5 in the first game before their offense went cold in a 6-1 setback in the nightcap.

Andre Ethier hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the day game, but the pitching staff failed to hold a lead. The offense was then limited to just an Adrian Gonzalez sac fly in the opening inning of the second game.

Baltimore had no problem scoring runs in either game. Nolan Reimold hit a go- ahead two-run double in the bottom of the eight inning in the first game, adding a solo homer in the contest as well.

Manny Machado then delivered the key blow in the nightcap, hitting a three- run homer and driving in four runs to give Baltimore its third straight victory and seventh in 10 games.

"We're just going to keep this same momentum going," Machado said. "It definitely helps that we came out with two games today."

Though fresh off his first victory since June 13, Baltimore's Jake Arrieta will try to pitch out of the sixth inning for the first time in four starts this year when he tries to complete the sweep.

Arrieta did not factor into the decision of his first two outings before beating the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. The righty fanned seven over five-plus innings while scattering three hits and five walks. He did keep the damage to a minimum, allowing just Desmond Jennings' leadoff homer in the first.

"He battled," catcher Matt Wieters said of Arrieta, who is set to face the Dodgers for the first time. "He didn't have his best command, but he was still able to pound the zone enough to be able to make some pitches when he needed to."

Baltimore hadn't hosted the Dodgers since 2002 when L.A. took two of three. The Dodgers later swept a three-game set from the O's at Dodger Stadium in 2004.