Morning briefing

First of all, yesterday’s stat of the night: the Dodgers went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Our J.P. Hoornstra has a recap of the 3-0 loss to the Astros, and columnist Jon Gold ventures out to Mannywood.

The LAT’s Bill Plaschke takes an anti-Manny stance. Jon Weisman wants to move on.

If you need another opportunity to brag to your Angel fan friends, Halos Heaven passes on this season’s Nielsen ratings. Thus far, the Dodgers have averaged 125,000 viewers a game to the Angels’ 66,000.

Roy Oswalt and Chad Billingsley tonight.

Morning briefing

The Dodgers fell 5-4 last night, with Andre Ethier (0-for-5, 8 LOB) going down as the main culprit. Randy Wolf vs. Livan Hernandez tonight at 4:10, but first, let’s recap some of the day’s blue-related news.

A year ago today: Derek Lowe took a perfect game into the seventh inning before giving up a single, and eventually, a solo home run but still earning the 2-1 victory over Atlanta. The Dodgers’ record entering play that day? 44-46.

Ronald Belisario is okay, relatively. Dr. Neil ElAttrache found no structural damage in the 26-year-old’s right elbow in a Wednesday MRI, but the rookie reliever has been placed on the DL in what appears to be primarily a precautionary measure. Belisario missed the entire 2005 and 2006 seasons due to Tommy John surgery.

There are less than 10 hours left to vote for Matt Kemp in MLB’s Final Vote 2009 campaign.

Lastly: yes, Daniel Murphy really did make that play last night.

Morning briefing

Keeping you up with Dodger news on this Monday off day.

Scott Hairston, who made a crucial out in the tenth inning on Sunday, was traded to the Athletics shortly after the game.

Via Eric Stephen at TrueBlueLA, the intentional pass Jeff Weaver issued to Adrian Gonzalez with the bases empty was only the third four-pitch IBB in a bases-empty situation. The previous walkees? Albert Pujols and Chipper Jones.

This weekend’s Dodger-related pieces: our Jill Painter thinks Manny is still hiding something. The LAT’s Bill Plaschke says the rest of the season started Sunday. And Bill Shaikin and Ben Bolch catch up with former Dodgers fading into different stages of oblivion: Eric Gagne and Joe Beimel.

Morning briefing

The Dodgers have signed first-round pick Aaron Miller, the CBS affiliate in Waco, TX reports, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts. Miller was drafted 36th overall by the Dodgers as a left-handed pitcher; he reportedly gets a nearly $900,000 signing bonus.

Manny Ramirez didn’t play today in Albuquerque due to a rain delay. His next stop will be to join the Inland Empire 66ers in taking on Lake Elsinore on Saturday and Rancho Cucamonga beginning Sunday.

ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick names reliever Ronald Belisario one of MLB’s Top 9 rookies, Dodger bloggers Sons of Steve Garvey passes on.