Notes From Wednesday's Game 4/14/2010

Arizona 9, Dodgers 7.

Box Score.

• Chad Billingsley went 5.2 innings (6 ER, 8 Hits, 5 K, 3 BB [1 IBB], 1 HR Allowed, 116 pitches - 66 for strikes).

His first 3 innings looked like this: O Runs, 1 Hit, 3 K, 0 BB. The next 2.2 IP: 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 K, 3 BB [1 IBB], 1 HR Allowed. I'm not worried though, as one hit was an infield single, two others just missed being caught, and I thought a couple of pitches that were called balls were strikes (perhaps that would have changed the outcome of an at-bat here and there). Oh, and it's one start, and it's April, and Chad is healthy and exceptionally talented.

No matter which pitcher you happen to consider the best starter in the game - Lincecum, Halladay, etc. -, know this: they all have poor starts during a season.

• Bullpen: 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 K, 6 BB [1 IBB], 1 WP, 1 HR Allowed.
• Matt Kemp clubbed his 3rd HR of the season, and has HRs in consecutive games, both to right-center.
• Kemp stole his second base of the season, and Rafael Furcal stole his 4th. Furcal did not swipe his 4th base in 2009 until June 9th.
• Manny (Double, 2 Singles, BB) and Russell Martin (Double, 2 Singles, BB) each reached base 4 times, Kemp (HR, Single, BB), Andre Ethier (3 Singles), and Furcal (3 Singles) each reached 3 times, and James Loney (2 Singles) reached base twice.
  
• Carlos Monasterios was not effective in the third of an inning he pitched (HR, BB, long flyout, BB), but his arm is electric, and he's absolutely worth keeping in the pen all year, as is required for a Rule 5 Selection.
• Charlie Haeger, slated to start on Saturday, entered in relief in the 9th inning, and immediately struck out Justin Upton on a nasty, dancing knuckleball. He threw a scoreless inning, giving up a walk (looked like a 3rd strike to me) and a single.
• Jonathan Broxton was finally used in a close game, pitching a scoreless 10th inning and striking out 2 D-Backs swinging.
• Russ Ortiz: STILL. NOT. GOOD. DFA! DFA!
  
• Joel McHale, star of the extremely funny show Community, threw out the first pitch.