Dodgers Bomb Pirates, Get Back To .500

The Dodgers opened up their full offensive arsenal on the Pirates on Sunday, matching a season high for runs scored with a 15-1 blowout of Pittsburgh. With their third straight win, the Dodgers moved back to .500. Everyone got into the act:

• James Loney didn't hit another three-run home run, but he did hit a double and four singles for his first career five-hit game. Welcome to first base in 2012, Jim. Loney had a chance to become the ninth Dodger ever with six hits in a game, but he flew out to left field in the eighth inning.
  
• Matt Kemp slugged his 34th home run of the season, and also singled, doubled, and scored three times. He was removed from the game in the top of the sixth inning, giving the crowd a chance to salute their MVP as he jogged to the dugout.
• Jerry Sands continued his torrid hitting with a home run and three singles, driving in four runs. It was the first home run at Dodger Stadium for Sands, who has 15 hits in his last 27 at-bats.
  
• Dee Gordon led off the first inning with a triple, one of three hits, and scored three runs himself
• Juan Rivera hit a double, two singles, and walked, scoring three runs while driving in four runs.
• Aaron Miles had a single and two walks, as did A.J. Ellis.
• Jamey Carroll was the last starter to get a hit, but he hit the ball hard in each of his first three times up, including an RBI groundout in the first inning for his 14th RBI of the season.
  
• Chad Billingsley even got a hit, in addition to allowing one run in five innings while striking out five.
  

Brad Lincoln was the latest Pirates starting pitcher to be treated to an early shower by the Dodgers. He allowed six runs while only recording five outs, and Vin Scully lamented Lincoln's day during the broadcast. "You know when you're a little kid, and you dream about being a big league player? If you dream you're an outfielder or a position player, naturally you dream of hitting home runs," Scully said. "If you're a pitcher, you dream of shutouts and no-hitters, big man on campus-type things. But there is such a bitter side to being a professional, and right now Brad Lincoln is sipping the vinegar."

In the final three games of the series, Pittsburgh starting pitchers sipped the vinegar to the tune of 14 runs allowed in 7 2/3 innings. The Pirates tied a club record by using eight pitchers in a nine-inning game.

The game was such a blowout that even John Ely got to pitch. Ely, who was being held in reserve for most of the past week in case Hiroki Kuroda couldn't pitch, pitched scoreless seventh and eighth inning. We were robbed of a three-inning save though, as Ramon Troncoso pitched the ninth inning. Troncoso was the last Dodger to record a save of three or more innings, pitching four innings on April 25, 2009 at Colorado.

The Dodgers have Monday off, but open a series with San Francisco Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, with Clayton Kershaw facing Tim Lincecum...again.

WP - Chad Billingsley (11-10): 5 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

LP - Brad Lincoln (1-3): 1 2/3 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, 1 strikeout

Box Score