Dodgers keep it rolling with 9-6 victory over Reds, as Matt Kemp homers again
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This time, there was a carryover effect. A very quick one, too.
The Dodgers followed their most thrilling, if unlikely, victory of the season on Saturday with quick offensive explosion Sunday. And then just kept it going.
By the time it was over, after Matt Kemp had hit another home run, the Dodgers had a 9-6 victory and were feeling like they had tapped into their season’s elusive quality -- momentum.
The Dodgers scored runs in five of their first six innings, collecting 13 hits and 10 walks. Every Dodger starter picked up at least one hit and seven scored.
Two of the hits came from starting pitcher Chad Billingsley, who in an 11-pitch at-bat, hit a solo home run, walked to force in a run and doubled in a third. The three RBIs were a career high.
One more than even Kemp managed, which is not to say the hot-hitting outfielder slowed down.
Coming off that 11-8 comeback victory the previous day, the Dodgers jumped on Cincinnati starter Travis Wood for three runs in the first inning. Jamey Carroll walked, took third on an Aaron Miles double and scored on an Andre Ethier sacrifice fly.
At which time Kemp hit his third home run in two days, this one a two-run shot. That left him with 48 RBIs, tops in the National League. He went two for three Sunday with three walks. He now has 16 home runs on the season, second in the N.L.
Billingsley homered for the second time in his career in the second inninng, and then the Dodgers scored three more times in the third. Catcher Rod Barajas, who had been a stunning one for 34 with runners in scoring position, doubled in two, and a bases-loaded walk to Billingsley forced in a third.
The Dodgers’ offense took the fourth off, but then came back with single runs in the fifth (Billingsley RBI double) and sixth (Jerry Sands RBI single). A regular offensive machine.
By then they were up 9-3, and even Billingsley was laboring on the mound, it was a comfortable cushion. Billingsley (5-4) went five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks.
John Ely surrendered two runs in his three-plus innings, with rookie Josh Lindblom getting the final three outs to help the Dodgers win their third series in a row.
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-- Steve Dilbeck