Dodgers 6, Padres 1

Suddenly, the Dodgers don't seem so dead anymore. Billingsley stepped up on a night when he wasn't even supposed to pitch and turned in six solid innings. Loney went 3 for 4 with a double and a home run and now has five homers in the past six games (and they said he didn't hit for enough power as a corner infielder). Kent homered, giving him a dozen seasons of 20 or more in his career. And the Dodgers moved into a three-way tie for second place in the wild card, 2 1/2 games behind the Pods. A win tomorrow night, and they're 1 1/2 back. Forget the division, they're still six out there. But this thing is a long way from being over. The boys go to 76-69. It's a Geriatric Special on tap tomorrow night, with Wells facing Maddux. Oh, and the Dodgers WON'T face Brandon Webb in this weekend's Arizona series. Hope springs eternal. Hasta manana.