Billingsley's gem lifts Dodgers over M's

Seattle, WA – Chad Billingsley tossed seven solid innings of one-run ball and the Los Angeles Dodgers thumped the Seattle Mariners, 8-2, in the finale of a three-game interleague series at Safeco Field.

Billingsley (4-4) allowed just two hits and three walks while fanning eight in the victory. Scott Elbert and Jamey Wright combined for a scoreless eighth and Shawn Tolleson allowed a run in the ninth, but closed it out for the win.

"He was good, he was aggressive today," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Billingsley. "In games like this in the past he's had some trouble when he gets a big lead and kind of seems to stay back, but today he was aggressive and I felt he was on the attack."

Andre Ethier smoked a grand slam, while James Loney and Adam Kennedy added RBI singles for the National League-leading Dodgers, who have won six of their last seven games.

Kyle Seager crushed a solo home run and Michael Saunders had an RBI double for the M's, who dropped two of three in this series.

Blake Beavan (3-6) was hammered for six runs on five hits and two walks in just two innings of work.

The M's jumped out to the early lead with a run in their first at-bat courtesy of a solo shot over the wall in right from Seager, but the Dodgers responded with six runs in the second inning to take the lead for good.

Bobby Abreu started the inning with a double and Kennedy walked three batters later to put men on the corners with two outs. Tony Gwynn Jr. ripped a run- scoring single into center and Dee Gordon followed with an RBI base hit to make it 2-1 Los Angeles.

Elian Herrera walked to load the bases and Ethier brought everybody home with a moon shot grand slam deep into the right-field seats to put the Dodgers comfortably ahead, 6-1.

The Dodgers added two more runs in the eighth when Loney brought home Abreu from second with a base hit into right field and Kennedy followed two batters later with a run-scoring single for a seven-run Dodgers lead.

Justin Smoak began the Mariners ninth with a solid base hit to right and hustled all the way around to score on Saunders' double into center field to cap the scoring.

"Billingsley threw a good ball game," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "He had a great feel for his breaking ball and did a good job with his fastball, particularly working down and then elevating. "He he did a good job against us, but I didn't feel like we did a very good job. We've proven that we're a lot better than that when we get to swinging the bats like were capable."

Game Notes

Beavan has allowed 17 earned runs in his last three starts...The Dodgers won their first series against Seattle since sweeping a three-game set July 9-11, 1999...It was Ethier's fourth career grand slam...Saunders has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games...Mariners catcher Jesus Montero had his six-game hitting streak snapped...Los Angeles went 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position.