Making A Statement

Yesterdays 10-0 win over the San Francisco Giants is the kind of statement I was talking about. The Dodgers got solid pitching from Chad Billingsley (7 1/3 IP, 0 runs), power from Matt Kemp (a two-run homer), and ESPN Sportscenter making highlight defense from Andre Ethier. That leaves the Dodgers one game back of the Giants in the National League West. Hanley Ramirez is 6 for 16 with 6 RBI's since the trade and the trade seems to have energized the rest of the Dodgers as well. The Dodgers did roll out a different batting order last night. Mark Ellis batted leadoff with Andre Ethier batting second against a lefty Barry Zito. Manager Don Mattingly was hoping to get Ethier jump started by hopefully getting him better pitches to see batting in front of Kemp and Ramirez. He went 0 for 4 with a run scored. Nathan Eovaldi got a win in his first start with the Miami Marlins as well. I really hated to see him go but the Dodgers needed bats.