The Los Angeles Dodgers look for their second straight win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, and if the starting pitchers pitch tonight like they did in their last start we are in for quite a gem at Dodger Stadium. chad Billingsley struck out 11 while pitching into the ninth inning without giving up a run Friday in San Diego, while Erik Bedard allowed just one run in seven innings against the Phillies.
With the left-handed Bedard on the mound, Dodgers first baseman James Loney is sitting tonight for the second time in three games against lefty starters this season. Loney has started the season 0-for-14 but manager Don Mattingly said Loney would be starting tonight if the opposing pitcher was right-handed.
"It has really been the plan since we went into spring training, is giving him days off against lefties," Mattingly said. "There are still plenty of at-bats for James."
Here are tonight's starting lineups:
Pirates (2-2)
Presley LF
McLouth RF
McCutchen CF
Walker 2B
Jones 1B
Barajas C
Alvarez 3B
Barmes SS
Bedard P
Dodgers (4-1)
Gordon SS
Ellis 2B
Kemp CF
Rivera 1B
Ethier RF
Hairston LF
Uribe 3B
Ellis C
Billingsley P
The Dodgers are 58-23 against the Pirates dating back to 2001, including 30-10 at Dodger Stadium.
For more news and notes on Vin Scully and the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.