Postgame: Giants 7, Dodgers 2

The Giants beat the Dodgers 7-2 today in the final game of a weekend series in San Francisco. For a full recap and boxscore click here.

THE BARE ESSENTIALS:

* True to form, former Dodger Brad Penny turned out to be a Dodger killer in this one, going seven strong innings and limiting LA to just two runs. He struck out only two and uncharacteristically relied on the fly out.

* Chad Billingsley was ineffective. His ERA is nearing 4 after another mediocre start — in this one, he lasted just four innings and allowed three runs. He didn’t walk anybody but was knocked around to the tune of eight hits.

* Offensively, the Dodgers had only five hits and were scoreless until the seventh. Their only runs came on a two-run shot by Russell Martin.

ETC…ETC:

* Jeff Weaver was simply a hit-inducing machine. In just 1 1/3 innings, he allowed five hits and was charged with four runs.

* Manny Ramirez had the day off, but the Dodgers outfield still had three of the team’s five hits. Juan Pierre replaced Manny in left and went 1-for-4.

* Charlie Haeger pitched the eighth in his first appearance for the Dodgers since September 2 and shut the Giants down 1-2-3.

* The Blue did turn a truly impressive double play in the fifth. On a Pablo Sandoval grounder to first with men on third and first, James Loney threw to Rafael Furcal covering second to get the first out and Furcal threw home, where Martin tagged out Freddy Sanchez.
ON DECK:

* Jon Garland (9-11, 4.23) faces Daniel McCutchen (0-1, 4.85) in the first game of a three-game set with the Pirates.

Postgame: Dodgers 9, Giants 1

The Dodgers beat the Giants 9-1 at AT&T Park tonight. For a full recap and boxscore click here.

THE BARE ESSENTIALS:

* Vicente Padilla continued to shine with the Dodgers, pitching six strong innings. He hasn’t lost a start with LA yet.

* Russell Martin and James Loney drove in a combined five runs, as Martin had a three-run homer and Loney went 2-for-4 with a two-run jack.

* Jonathan Sanchez, of no-hitter fame, was knocked around by the Dodgers. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, three walks, and four earned.

ETC…ETC:

* As I write this, the Rockies and Padres are tied at 2-2 in the top of the 10th inning. A Colorado loss would give the Dodgers a three-game lead in the NL West.

* Padilla has made four starts with the Dodgers, posting an ERA of 2.02. A valuable addition, to say the least.

* The LA bullpen was lights out, with just one baserunner allowed by Hong-Chih Kuo, Ronald Belisario, and James McDonald. They struck out four Giants.

ON DECK:

* The Dodgers try to sweep the Giants tomorrow at 1:05 p.m., sending out Chad Billingsley (12-9, 3.93) to face Brad Penny (9-8, 5.15).

Postgame: Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 3

The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 4-3 tonight at Dodger Stadium. For a full recap and boxscore click here.

THE BARE ESSENTIALS:

* Andre Ethier was the hero in this one, as he drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the eventual winning run in the seventh and then made a spectacular play on a Brandon Allen drive to right-center. Ethier caught the ball at the top of the wall while on a dead run.

* Matt Kemp homered once again — making it four straight games with a four-bagger for the 24-year-old centerfielder. After a 2-for-3 day, he’s now OPSing an even .900 on the season.

* Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla was effective for his second consecutive start with the team, going 5.1 four-hit innings. He was charged with only one run but got the no-decision.


ETC…ETC
:

* Scott Elbert, just called up earlier in the day from Triple-A as rosters expanded, was nearly the goat in this one. Elbert, who was 2-0 with a 4.80 ERA in three previous stints with the Dodgers, gave up two runs in the sixth after picking up for Padilla.

* Also called up were catcher A.J. Ellis and outfielder Jason Repko. It’s Repko’s first time with the big club since last September.

* Jim Thome, acquired from the White Sox on Monday, will debut with the Dodgers tomorrow. Jon Garland, acquired from Arizona, will start against the Diamondbacks Thursday, taking the spot of Charlie Haeger in the rotation.

ON DECK:
* In game three of the four-game set, the Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley (12-8, 3.83) faces Arizona’s Max Scherzer (8-8, 4.26)