LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andre Ethier jump-started the Dodgers' offense with a two-run homer and James Loney added a three-run shot, leading Los Angeles to a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Chad Billingsley (2-1) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings to help the Dodgers snap a five-game losing streak. The right-hander struck out four and walked three.
Both homers came off Charlie Morton (0-5), who has allowed seven in 19 1-3 innings this season and has an ERA of 12.57. The right-hander gave up six runs — three earned — and six hits through six innings while striking out eight.
Akinori Iwamura hit a ground-rule double on Billingsley's first pitch of the game and scored on a double by Andrew McCutchen. The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the first when Xavier Paul led off with a single and Ethier hit his sixth homer.
The Dodgers, who were shut out Thursday night for the third time in a five-game stretch, increased their margin to 5-1 in the third with three unearned runs after shortstop Bobby Crosby and first baseman Jeff Clement committed errors on grounders by Paul and Ethier.
Matt Kemp struck out, but Loney capitalized on a stiff wind blowing out toward right field and lined an 0-1 pitch into the first row of the lower box seats.
The Pirates got a run back in the fourth on two-out doubles by Ryan Church and Ryan Doumit.
Ronnie Belliard pinch-hit for Billingsley in the sixth with the bases loaded and hit a sacrifice fly.
NOTES: Dodgers manager Joe Torre was relieved after getting a phone call from the son of former Milwaukee Braves roommate Bob Uecker, telling him his dad's heart surgery on Friday was successful. "He's been a special friend for a long time," Torre said of the Brewers' longtime broadcaster. "When we were in New York, Bob called me and told me what was going to happen — but the real reason he called me was to have me set up golf for (Brewers manager) Ken Macha on Monday. I mean, here he is, going in for surgery three days later, and he's worried about Ken Macha getting a place on the off day to play golf." ... Torre's first Kentucky Derby horse as a co-owner, 50-1 shot Homeboykris, will have the No. 19 post position on Saturday. The 3-year-old gelding won the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park in October, but hasn't competed since finishing second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 27. His trainer is Rick Dutrow Jr., who won the Derby and Preakness in 2008 with Big Brown.
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