• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dodgers' Billingsley hopes for run support vs. Astros

Jul 3, 2008 - 1:19 PM LA Dodgers (40-44) at Houston (40-45), 2:05 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Chad Billingsley has been hurt by the Los Angeles Dodgers' inconsistent offense on more than one occasion, but he hopes the tide is turning.

Billingsley takes the hill looking for some run support Thursday in the finale of a four-game series with the Houston Astros.

The Dodgers have scored just 343 runs, the third-worst total in the National League. Billingsley (7-7, 3.38 ERA) has been victimized by the lack of offense the most. In his seven losses, the righthander has received just six runs of support.

The 23-year-old's last start was a microcosm of the Dodgers' offensive woes. Billingsley allowed just three hits and Los Angeles scored an unearned run to beat Anaheim, 1-0, without the benefit of a single hit on Saturday.

Despite the lack of run support, Billingsley has gone 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA over his last three starts.

However, Billingsley may be even more dangerous now that the Dodgers have begun to heat up. Los Angeles has scored 11 runs in its last two games after managing just 14 over its previous seven.

Brandon Backe (5-8, 5.12) may have a hard time slowing Los Angeles. Backe is 1-3 with a 6.95 ERA in his last six starts.

On Saturday, Backe was rocked for six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, but was let off the hook when Houston rallied for an 11-10 victory over Boston.