Dodgers beat Cubs 9-7 behind Martin, Billingsley

[July 10, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Russell Martin hit a three-run homer, All-Star Andre Ethier had a pair of RBI singles and Casey Blake drove in two runs, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 9-7 Friday night.

The Dodgers have won eight of 11, and they finally broke out some offense against the Cubs, who have lost the first two games of this series. Neither team had scored more than three runs in any of the previous four games between them at Dodger Stadium.

Chad Billingsley (7-4) won his third in a row, allowing four runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings. He struck out nine and walked four.

Ted Lilly (3-8) gave up seven runs -- five earned -- and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. The left-hander struck out one, tying a season low, and walked two in losing his second straight start.

The Dodgers took a 3-1 lead in the second on Martin's 15th homer. It also scored James Loney, who had singled, and Blake, who walked.

Chicago pulled to 3-2 in the third on All-Star Marlon Byrd's RBI single -- the third straight two-out hit given up by Billingsley. He walked Tyler Colvin before striking out Mike Fontenot to end the inning with minimal damage.

Byrd had four hits and three RBIs in five at-bats to go with his 3-for-4 performance in the series opener.

The Dodgers added three more runs in the third on an RBI single by Ethier, Matt Kemp's RBI double and Blake's sacrifice fly that made it 6-2.

Ethier had a two-out RBI single in the fourth to chase Lilly. Blake added an RBI double in the fifth off Mitch Atkins, extending the lead to 8-3.

Loney's RBI double off Bob Howry with two outs in the sixth made it 9-3.

Chicago got a bases-loaded groundout by Fontenot in the second and Byrd's RBI groundout in the fifth.

NOTES: Cubs manager Lou Piniella said RHP Carlos Silva is questionable to make his scheduled start Sunday. Silva threw a "so-so" session Friday, Piniella said, adding that he expects the pitcher to be fine after the All-Star break. Silva injured his upper right calf at Arizona on Tuesday. ... The Cubs gave SS Starlin Castro and C Geovany Soto the night off before Saturday's day game. LF Alfonso Soriano struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth after the Cubs scored two runs to close the gap to 9-5. ... Dodgers LF Manny Ramirez and C Brad Ausmus will be at Class-A Inland Empire on Saturday for rehab assignments. ... Dodgers fans cheered "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, who smiled and waved in response.

[Associated Press; By BETH HARRIS]

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