He went seven innings, held the Padres to a run (Giles homered on a 2-0 pitch with two outs in the seventh) on three hits, struck out four, didn't walk one and allowed only six balls to be hit out of the infield. So far, the Dodgers' investment (three years, $35.3 million) is a sound one. This guy absolutely dominated the Padres, who came in hitting .336 as a team. What was lost in the shuffle of his performance, though, was that the Dodgers put on a textbook example of working counts -- and why it is an effective tactic. Although Padres starter Justin Germano pretty well dominated them, too, limiting them to three hits and an unearned run over six innings, he threw 107 pitches, which is why he had to be lifted after six. He was followed by Joe Thatcher, who issued three consecutive one-out walks in the seventh -- including one to Kuroda, who was trying to bunt -- leading to a decisive, six-run inning for the Dodgers. In all, four Padres pitchers threw 204 pitches tonight, and the Dodgers drew seven walks. Of the batters who drew those seven walks, four of them scored. ... Dodgers go to 3-1 and move into sole possession of first place for the first time this season. ... By the way, after Billingsley pitched the final two innings tonight on the heels of his abbreviated season debut Wed., Torre announced that Billingsley and Loaiza will be flipped in PHX, with Loaiza moved up to Monday and Bills pushed back to Tuesday. ... Sleep fast. Day game tomorrow.