The Dodgers are in desperate need of a win, and send Chad Billingsley to the mound Tuesday night against the Astros at Minute Maid Park looking to snap a three-game losing streak. The Dodgers held a 3-1 lead with two outs in the ninth inning on Monday night, but lost 4-3, the eighth loss in the last 10 games for the Dodgers. J.A. Happ gets the start for Houston.
Billingsley is 2-4 this season with a 3.47 ERA. Plagued by poor run support, Billingsley hasn't won since April 22, and is 0-3 despite a 2.91 ERA. The Dodgers have scored three total runs in his last four starts.
Rookie outfielder Jerry Sands is on a hot streak for the Dodgers. He hit his first major league home run on Saturday, and followed that up with a 4-for-4 game on Sunday and three walks Monday night. He has reached base in nine of his last 10 plate appearances, and after a slow start is now hitting .239/.346/.386 with 10 doubles and a home run in 105 PA.
Happ, who came to the Astros last July from the Phillies in the Roy Oswalt trade, is 3-5 this year with a 5.30 ERA. In 12 career starts at Minute Maid Park, Happ is 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA. Bill Hall, who was pursued briefly by the Dodgers in the offseason for the right-handed half of a stopgap in left field, had four hits, including two doubles, and a stolen base Monday night.
Tonight's 5:05 p.m. PDT game will be televised by KCAL. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.