A four-run sixth inning by the Giants chased Chad Billingsley, and put the game out of reach, as the Dodgers fell 5-0 in the opener of a three-game series at AT&T Park Monday night. It was the third straight loss for the Dodgers, who have scored three runs during that span. Ryan Vogelsong pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings for the win for San Francisco.
Pablo Sandoval got a pitch near his eyes in the fourth inning, and saw it go all the way out of the park in right center field, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. Then, four singles and a double in a six-batter span to open the sixth inning ended Billingsley's night early, and plated four more runs. "Bills was really throwing the ball good early," manager Don Mattingly said after the game. "He ran into some trouble in the sixth, and just didn't seem to be able to get out of it."
The Dodgers won four of their first five meetings with the Giants this season, but have lost their last five encounters. The Dodgers are now a season-worst 13½ games behind the Giants in the National League West. Vogelsong, at 98 innings, now qualifies for the leaderboard, and he leads the National League with a 2.02 ERA.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.