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Billingsley Fans 13 As Dodgers Rout Marlins

POSTED: 5:02 pm PDT July 13, 2008

(Sports Network) - Chad Billingsley struck out a career-high 13 in seven innings and the Dodgers scored six runs in the first and pounded the Marlins, 9-1, to salvage the finale of a four-game set.

Billingsley (9-8) gave up only one run on five hits and didn't walk a batter for the Dodgers, who dropped four of six to enter the All-Star break with a 46-49 record. Despite their sub-.500 record, LA is in second place in the NL West, and trails Arizona by only a game.

Matt Kemp, Nomar Garciaparra and James Loney each knocked in a pair of runs in the winning effort.

Andrew Miller (5-9) was pounded for seven runs on five hits with five walks in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss for the Marlins, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. Luis Gonzalez drove in the lone run for Florida, which entered the break with a 50-45 record, 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East.

Alfredo Amezaga singled to right to lead off the game, and came around on Gonzalez's double to right-center, giving the Marlins the early 1-0 lead. It would be short-lived.

Kemp reached on an infield single to start the home half, and then stole second. Miller rendered the stolen base moot when he walked the next two batters, loading the bases. Garciaparra poked a single to right, scoring one run, then Miller walked the struggling Andruw Jones to force in the second run.

Loney lined a double in the gap in right-center, scoring two more runs, and Jones was able to score on an Andy LaRoche groundout. Luis Maza then executed a squeeze play, laying a bunt down the first-base line as Loney crossed home to give the Dodgers a 6-1 lead. Billingsley struck out, finally ending the inning.

"It was nice to have a five-run lead to start the second inning," said Billingsley, who struck out six Marlins in a row at one point. "I had good command of my fastball, I was able to keep the ball down, and the hitters off-balance."

Garciaparra's RBI double to left with one out in the second pushed the Dodgers lead to 7-1, and after a two-out walk to Loney loaded the bases, Miller's day was over.

Starter Mark Hendrickson came out of the bullpen and struck out LaRoche to stop the bleeding. Hendrickson tossed 5 1/3 innings of relief for Miller, giving up three hits and two runs. Kemp's two-run single in the fifth was the only offense the rest of the way as the Dodgers coasted to the win.

Game Notes

The Marlins club-record streak of 14 straight games with a homer ended...Miller has lost his last four decisions...Cody Ross went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games...Billingsley is 4-0 on his career against the Marlins...Jones went 1-for-3 to finish his first half with a .164 batting average.

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