21 Scoreless Innings

Chad Billingsley (4-6, 4.15) vs. Tim Lincecum (2-8, 6.07)

Lineup:

Gordon SS

Hairston 2B

Ethier RF

Rivera 1B

Abreu RF

Ellis C

Gwynn CF

Uribe 3B

Billingsley P

I’m right there with you, Dodger fans. The Dodgers incredible season start has been unraveling right before our eyes. If the Dodgers aren’t able to stave off the sweep at the hands of the Giants tonight they will move into first place with us. Just how bad have the Dodgers been playing? They have only won one game on this road trip (against Anaheim). If the Giants complete the three-game sweep tonight, the Dodgers will have been totally swept in the Bay versus the A’s and Giants. In 8 games played on this road trip, the Boys in Blue have only scored 13 runs total. They have been shut out three times as well. Even Clayton Kershaw‘s solid start last night couldn’t do much since the offense has been non-existent. No one is hitting. The only Dodger in the starting lineup who is still currently hitting above .300 is Jerry Hairston Jr. The Dodgers have hit a paltry .222/.299/.299 with 6 homeruns in 24 games this month. The only Dodger who has had any success (if you can call it that) on this road trip is Juan Rivera who is 9 for 25 and hitting .360 on the trip. Can the Dodgers snap out of this or is their hot start gone to waste?

If there’s anyone who wants a win more than the Dodgers, it’s Tim Lincecum. He hasn’t won since April 28th. He’s 0-6 in his last nine starts. Last time out against the Oakland Athletics, Lincecum settled down after allowing three runs in the first inning. He didn’t allow a hit thereafter, but only came away with a no-decision. In his career Lincecum is 5-5 with a 3.07 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings pitched against the Dodgers. Juan Rivera has hit the Freak to a tune of .429 and Adam Kennedy is hitting .313 against him. Andre Ethier has had some success against Tim, and he has two homeruns and 6 RBIs against him.

Chad Billingsley is trying to bounce back from a two-game losing streak himself. Although the Dodgers’

offense managed five runs in his last start, Billingsley squandered away the lead en route to his sixth loss. He allowed 6 runs on 10 hits. Bills started off the month better, but once again his consistency problems came to fruition during his last two starts. Last time out against San Francisco, Chad allowed 7 hits and 4 walks to the Giants in 4 innings back on May 9th in a no-decision. In his career against our rivals, Bills is 7-5 with a 3.28 ERA. The usual culprits of Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey, and Brandon Belt have all hit Bills well. Actually even Ryan Theriot is hitting .368 against the right-hander.

After the conclusion of this series, the Dodgers will finally return home for a four-game series against the New York Mets beginning tomorrow.

The game will commence at 12:45 pm this afternoon, and it will be televised on Prime ticket. Everyone is hungry for a win. Who will come out victorious? We will analyze the outcome after the game.