Billingsley pitched a gem, this time not running into any trouble in the fifth or any other innings. He was lifted after issuing a leadoff walk to Luis Castillo in the seventh, but Beimel, Broxton and Saito combined to retire the next nine Mets batters in order to close out the Dodgers’ 11th win in their past 14 games, giving them an 18-14 record for the season, and they actually gained another game on the Snakes. The Dodgers are now just three back in the NL West. … Oh, and did I mention that, um, well, uhhhh, you know … JUAN PIERRE IS HITTING .324 WITH A .400 ON-BASE PERCENTAGE. … And, ummmmmm, ya know, uhhhh, you might have noticed that, ummmmmm … HE HAS STARTED THE PAST FIVE GAMES IN A ROW, AND IS 10 FOR 19 WITH SEVEN RUNS AND THREE RBI IN THOSE GAMES. … but far be it from me to say I told you so. … Hasta manana.