GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (55-44) at HOUSTON (42-56)

NL: LA DODGERS (55-44) at HOUSTON (42-56)

<h3>Billingsley puts perfect record on line vs. Astros</h3>

<div class="pre">LA Dodgers (55-44) at Houston (42-56) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (Ticker) - After a poor showing at home in their last</div>series, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to right their ship on theroad as they start a three-game series with the Houston Astroson Monday.


The Dodgers have played well on the road of late, going 8-3since June 21. They are 26-20 overall away from Dodger Stadium,trailing only the New York Mets (29) in road wins in theNational League.


Chad Billingsley (6-0, 3.56 ERA) will be asked to spearhead theeffort to improve that mark, as he will get the start despitebeing bothered by a blister on the middle finger of his pitchinghand.


Los Angeles is 5-1 in games started by Billingsley, who neverhas faced Houston.


The Dodgers are walking a tightrope with their pitching staff -Randy Wolf (shoulder) has not pitched since July 3 and closerTakashi Saito (shoulder) has missed the last four contests.

Billingsley did not record no-decision in his last outing onWednesday, as he yielded four runs over five innings againstPhiladelphia.


The Astros are just happy to get back to Minute Maid Park sincethey own the league's worst road record at 18-34. They are24-22 at home.


Chris Sampson (7-6, 4.15) gets the start for the Astros. Therighthander will be eyeing his second straight win afterallowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 victory Tuesdayover Washington.


Sampson will be making his first career appearance against theDodgers.

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS

LA DODGERS HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Rafael Furcal SS .284 3 34 Craig Biggio 2B .249 5 31
Juan Pierre CF .287 0 25 Mark Loretta SS .305 2 30
Russell Martin C .302 11 65 Lance Berkman 1B .260 15 61
Jeff Kent 2B .284 13 51 Carlos Lee LF .292 19 80
Luis Gonzalez LF .290 11 44 Mike Lamb 3B .301 10 28
Nomar Garciaparra 3B .278 4 47 Luke Scott RF .232 11 41
James Loney 1B .361 3 19 Eric Munson C .295 2 8
Andre Ethier RF .295 8 42 Eric Bruntlett CF .298 0 5
Chad Billingsley RHP .250 0 2 Chris Sampson RHP .160 0 0
(6-0, 3.56) (7-6, 4.15)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY (6-0, 3.56)
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON (7-6, 4.15)

UMPIRES: HP - PAUL NAUERT
1B - GERRY DAVIS
2B - BRIAN GORMAN
3B - MIKE EVERITT

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY AND RUSSELL MARTIN
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON AND ERIC MUNSON

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.284, 3 HR, 34 RBI)
J PIERRE (.287, 0 HR, 25 RBI)
R MARTIN (.302, 11 HR, 65 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JEFF KENT SCORED RAFAEL FURCAL.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J KENT ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 1
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: L GONZALEZ (.290, 11 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 1 2 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.249, 5 HR, 31 RBI)
M LORETTA (.305, 2 HR, 30 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.260, 15 HR, 61 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Pierre cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
N Garciaparra 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .361
A Ethier rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: S - J Pierre. RBI - J Kent (52). 2-out RBI - J Kent. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
E Bruntlett cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 1 -- 1
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.56

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.20

Pitches-strikes: C Sampson 17-10. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sampson 2-1.
Batters faced: C Sampson 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 1 2 1
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: N GARCIAPARRA (.278, 4 HR, 47 RBI)
J LONEY (.361, 3 HR, 19 RBI)
A ETHIER (.295, 8 HR, 42 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Pierre cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
N Garciaparra 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .361
A Ethier rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: S - J Pierre. RBI - J Kent (52). 2-out RBI - J Kent. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - N Garciaparra (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Kent-R Furcal-J
Loney).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
E Bruntlett cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - M Loretta. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 1 -- 1
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.51

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.20

Pitches-strikes: C Billingsley 6-5; C Sampson 17-10. Ground balls-fly balls:
C Billingsley 2-1; C Sampson 2-1. Batters faced: C Billingsley 3; C Sampson 5.


UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 0 1 2 1
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.292, 19 HR, 80 RBI)
M LAMB (.301, 10 HR, 28 RBI)
L SCOTT (.232, 11 HR, 41 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Pierre cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .358
A Ethier rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 7 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: S - J Pierre. RBI - J Kent (52). 2-out RBI - J Kent. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - N Garciaparra (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Kent-R Furcal-J
Loney).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
E Bruntlett cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - M Loretta. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 10 -- 1
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.51

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.16

Pitches-strikes: C Billingsley 6-5; C Sampson 29-17. Ground balls-fly balls:
C Billingsley 2-1; C Sampson 5-1. Batters faced: C Billingsley 3; C Sampson 8.


UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 0 1 2 1
HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: C BILLINGSLEY (.250, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
R FURCAL (.286, 1-FOR-1)
J PIERRE (.287, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Pierre cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .358
A Ethier rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 7 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: S - J Pierre. RBI - J Kent (52). 2-out RBI - J Kent. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - N Garciaparra (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Kent-R Furcal-J
Loney).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .235
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
E Bruntlett cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - M Loretta. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 10 -- 1
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.46

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.16

Pitches-strikes: C Billingsley 19-13; C Sampson 29-17. Ground balls-fly
balls: C Billingsley 2-4; C Sampson 5-1. Batters faced: C Billingsley 7; C
Sampson 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 0 0 1 2 1
HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E BRUNTLETT (.298, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
C SAMPSON (.160, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.249, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .358
A Ethier rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
C Billingsley p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 10 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: S - J Pierre. RBI - J Kent (52). 2-out RBI - J Kent. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - N Garciaparra (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Kent-R Furcal-J
Loney).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .235
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
E Bruntlett cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - M Loretta. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 100 -- 1
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.46

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.12

Pitches-strikes: C Billingsley 19-13; C Sampson 38-22. Ground balls-fly
balls: C Billingsley 2-4; C Sampson 8-1. Batters faced: C Billingsley 7; C
Sampson 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 0 0 1 2 1
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R MARTIN (.301, 0-FOR-1)
J KENT (.286, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
L GONZALEZ (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .358
A Ethier rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
C Billingsley p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 10 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: S - J Pierre. RBI - J Kent (52). 2-out RBI - J Kent. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - N Garciaparra (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Kent-R Furcal-J
Loney).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
M Loretta ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .303
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .235
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
E Bruntlett cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .298
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160

Totals 9 0 1 0 1 0 4

BATTING: S - C Sampson. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1.
GIDP - M Loretta. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 100 -- 1
HOUSTON - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.41

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.12

Pitches-strikes: C Billingsley 32-19; C Sampson 38-22. Ground balls-fly
balls: C Billingsley 3-6; C Sampson 8-1. Batters faced: C Billingsley 11; C
Sampson 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY CHRIS SAMPSON ALLOWED JEFF KENT TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 2
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: N GARCIAPARRA (.277, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 0 0 1 2 4 1
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.259, 0-FOR-1)
C LEE (.291, 0-FOR-1)
M LAMB (.300, 0-FOR-1)</div>