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A pair of bases-loaded doubles by the Angels doomed the Dodgers as Anaheim took the opener of the freeway series, 10-1. Hideki Matsui lofted a double just out of the reach of Andre Ethier in the fifth inning to score three and break a 1-1 tie, and Torii Hunter followed one inning later with a shot to the gap in right center field to break the game open at 8-1.
As someone who generally allows few home runs, walks very few batters, and doesn't strike out many, Joel Pineiro while on the mound is a man who makes his living on balls in play. Tonight, while at the plate, Pineiro did his damage without putting the ball in play. He struck out to open the third inning, but the third strike got away from Russell Martin (scored a wild pitch against Chad Billingsley), allowing Pineiro to reach base. In his next two plate appearances, Pineiro walked for the first two times in his career, in his 191st and 192nd career plate appearances. All three times Pineiro reached base, he scored, making him the third pitcher ever to score three runs against the LA Dodgers, joining Don Newcombe (1959) and Dan Schatzeder (1985).
On the mound, Pineiro allowed one run, five hits, and a walk in nine innings, the first complete game pitched against the Dodgers this season.
Chad Billingsley tied his career high by allowing seven earned runs, the final three bequeathed to George Sherrill, who walked Bobby Abreu and gave up the double to Hunter in the sixth inning. Billingsley became the fifth pitcher to walk two pitchers in a game this season, joining teammate Clayton Kershaw:
| Pitchers to Walk Two Pitchers in Same Game, 2010 | ||||
| Pitcher | Date | Team | Opp | Pitcher(s) Walked |
| Clayton Kershaw | Apr 7 | LA | Pit | Ross Ohlendorf (2) |
| Greg Smith | Apr 18 | Col | Atl | Jair Jurrjens (2) |
| Matt Cain | Jun 2 | SF | Col | Jeff Francis (2) |
| Edwin Jackson | Jun 8 | Ari | Atl | Kris Medlen (2) |
| Chad Billingsley |
tonight | LA | Ana | Joel Pineiro (2) |
Notes
- The Angels scored all 10 of their runs tonight with two outs
- James Loney hit a home run in the fourth inning, his first long ball since May 15.
- Scott Elbert, demoted last week after one relief outing, has been placed on the temporary inactive list with Albuquerque after being granted permission by the club to leave for personal family matters, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
- The Dodgers signed four draft picks, per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. All four were college players: 5th rounder Jacob Lemmerman, a shortstop; 13th rounder Jesse Bosnik, a shortstop; 14th rounder Alex McRee, a left-handed pitcher; and 28th rounder Mike Drowne, a centerfielder.
John Ely and Scott Kazmir do battle tomorrow night.
WP - Joel Pineiro (5-6): 9 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
LP - Chad Billingsley (6-4): 5 2/3 IP, 9 hits, 7 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts