In its history, Colorado had only two home victories with three or fewer hits before today:

  • August 18, 1999: Rockies score four runs on three hits, beat Braves 4-1.
  • May 25, 2008: Rockies score four runs on three hits, beat Mets 4-1.

Say hi to the third:

Dodgers 3 8 1
Rockies 5 3 0

Chad Billingsley had two missions today: try to pitch deep into the game to avoid relying on a depleted Dodger bullpen, and keep the Rockies from scoring. He succeeded in the first mission and almost in the second.

After allowing a first-inning, two-run home run to Carlos Gonzalez, Billingsley retired 11 batters in a row at one point and took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Rockies had not had a hit since Gonzalez’s homer. But fighting his control late in the game, Billingsley walked Jason Giambi with one out and then gave up a second, two-run home run, this to Seth Smith.

Colorado then got its fifth run in the eighth inning without any hits at all, thanks to another Bilingsley walk, a throwing error by Dioner Navarro, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.

Billingsley ended up being charged with five runs on three hits and five walks in 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven.

The Dodgers got the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning after would-be reliever James Loney’s fourth hit of the game (he needed a triple for the cycle). But Navarro struck out for the third time, Rod Barajas lined out as a pinch-hitter and Tony Gwynn Jr. fouled out.

Colorado ended its bizarre streak in which it had lost on 17 consecutive Sundays.