After a few quiet nights, the Los Angeles Dodger bats woke up as beat the Chicago Cubs 9-7. After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second inning, the Dodgers put three runs on the board in the bottom of the frame thanks to a Russell Martin 3 run home run; his first since May 11th. The Dodgers punished Ted Lilly all night, as Lilly only lasted 3.2 innings and surrendered 7 runs (5 earned.) After Martin, the all-star Andre Ethier led the way for the Dodgers with 3 hits of his own. Every Dodger starter recorded a hit in the contest.
Chad Billingsley lacked his best stuff, but certainly got the job done. Billingsley worked out of some trouble early in the contest and was able to pitch 7 innings and get his first win since the end of May (also against the Cubs.) In his 7 innings pitched, Billingsley struck out 9 and surrendered 7 hits, 4 earned runs (one surrendered by Miller and Sherrill) and 4 walks. After Billingsley came in to start the 7th (despite having thrown 120 pitches in a 6 run game,) Torre called on one of his half dozen pitcher he had warm up in George Sherrill who promptly gave up a line drive double and was pulled (another solid outing for George.) Justin Miller relieved Sherrill, retired the first batter and then allowed 2 runs; one Billingsley's on a wild pitch and the other Sherrill's.
Miller would start the 9th inning but after allowing a leadoff single, Joe Torre saw fit to bring in his closer Jonathan Broxton to secure the win. Broxton would end up surrendering two runs (one charged to Miller) before closing out the game. Not the prettiest end to the game for the Dodger bullpen or manager.
WP - Chad Billingsley (7-4): 7 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
LP - Ted Lilly (3-8): 3.2 IP, 7 hits, 7 runs (5 earned), 2 walks, 1 strikeout