Dodgers Energized In Return Home

After a 2-4 road trip, the Dodgers returned home and were recharged by their battery. After Magic Johnson got the crowd sufficiently pumped up during the pregame ceremonies, Ted Lilly pitched six strong innings, and A.J. Ellis doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Dodgers beat their rival San Francisco Giants 9-1 Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Mark Ellis doubled with one out, which was followed by an intentional walk to Matt Kemp. Andre Ethier followed with a walk off the southpaw Zito, and Juan Rivera hit a slow grounder to second base with the bases loaded for a 1-0 lead.

The Giants tied the game in the sixth inning thanks to a pair of hits, a fielding error by Kemp, and a passed ball by Ellis, his second of the night.

That was the only run surrendered by Lilly, who has allowed three total runs in 20 innings in three home starts this season. Lilly joins fellow lefty Chris Capuano in the 4-0 club, and sports a sparkling 1.41 ERA through five starts this season.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dodgers broke the tie with a one-out single by Bobby Abreu, who was 2-for-3 Monday in his home debut at Dodger Stadium. Juan Uribe followed with a walk, and A.J. Ellis doubled home Abreu for a 2-1 lead. Tony Gwynn Jr., pinch hitting for Lilly, followed with a bunt single that allowed Uribe to score on a throwing error by third baseman Conor Gillaspie.

The Dodgers were gifted an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when Kemp, who doubled, was going to be thrown out at third base on a grounder but pitcher Steve Edlefsen threw wild, allowing Kemp to score.

Each team committed three errors on the night.

With Javy Guerra demoted from closer and having thrown 23 pitches on Sunday, the Dodgers used Ronald Belisario and Josh Lindblom in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. With a three-run lead, Kenley Jansen was warming up for the ninth inning but the Dodgers scored five in the bottom of the eighth to break the game open.

Notes

• Kemp went 3-for-3 with a walk, raising his batting average to .406 after briefly falling under .400 over the weekend. Kemp's batting average has been at .400 or higher after 26 of 29 games this season.
• A.J. Ellis, who was 2-for-4 tonight, has reached base in a career-high 19 straight games.
• Ethier went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and has a major league leading 30 RBI on the season.
• Dee Gordon extended his hitting streak to seven games with an eighth inning bunt single.
• Abreu this season, including his time with the Angels, has five doubles and three singles.
• The Dodgers are 11-2 at home this season.

Tonight's Particulars

Home Runs: none

WP - Ted Lilly (4-0): 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

LP - Barry Zito (1-1): 6 IP, 8 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts