Dodgers win a much needed game to close tough week

The Dodgers day could have not started worst when the news that Sunday starter, Chad Billingsley, was going on the disabled list due to right elbow soreness. While Billingsley's status won't be known for a few days, the Dodgers needed to call up Stephen Fife to make the start.

Fife's first inning of work was filled with pitches missing location and Oriole hits, J.J. Hardy's two-out single brought in the second and third runs of the inning and it began to look like a Baltimore sweep.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the top of third, Mark Ellis got a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 but then after a Adrian Gonzalez walk to load the bases again, Matt Kemp struck out swinging.

Adam Jones booming home run in the bottom of the third made it 4-1.

Jake Arrieta's control was in issue all game and in the top of the 5th, it began to unravel, a few walks and hit batter loaded the bases again for Mark Ellis and this time, he singled in two. Jake Arrieta was replaced by T.J. McFarland, a left-handed pitcher, but Gonzalez's fly ball down the left field line wasn't handled by Nate McLouth and fell in for a double and an RBI. Matt Kemp concluded the scoring in the inning with his first hit of the game to drive in Ellis.

In the top of the 7th, Kemp scored on a great slide to make it 6-4 and then the Dodgers added one more in the 9th to make it 7-4.

Dodger relievers (and really with Fife, it was the whole staff on call today), Howell, Matt Guerrier, Paco Rodriguez, Kenley Jansen, and then Brandon League, kept the Orioles off the scoreboard and had a nice game to close out the week

Up next

The Dodgers head to New York, enjoy an off-day, and then face the Mets for three starting on Tuesday.

Game particulars

Home runs: Adam Jones (3)

WP - J.P. Howell (1-0): 1/3 IP, 1 strikeout

LP - Jake Arietta (1-1): 4 IP, 5 runs, 2 hits, 5 walks, 1 HBP, 6 strikeouts

Sv Brandon League - (5): 1 IP