Dodgers lose to White Sox in 13 innings, 6-5

By BILL SHAIKIN

June 26, 2009 12 AM PT

ON THE DODGERS

CHICAGO — Here come the San Francisco Giants.

Here comes Manny.

The Dodgers will play that hand, happily.

The Dodgers just lost their first series in a month, after the Chicago White Sox beat them for the second consecutive day, this time by a 6-5 score, when Scott Podsednik singled home the winning run in the 13th inning Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Dodgers still have the best record in the National League, but the Giants suddenly have the next-best record, and San Francisco has crept to within seven games of the Dodgers.

“I think we’re in a good spot,” outfielder Andre Ethier said. “We’ll be in a better spot with another tweak in the lineup.”

That tweak can be identified as Manny Ramirez, whose 50-game drug suspension ends next week. The White Sox outhomered the Dodgers in the three-game series, 9-2. Ramirez should help there.

The Dodgers lost a series for the first time since the Angels took two of three games at Dodger Stadium May 22-24. They lost a series on the road for the first time since losing two of three games at San Francisco April 27-29.

“It shows how good our team is,” center fielder Matt Kemp said.

On a day in which he contributed nothing at the plate -- he went hitless in six at-bats and struck out four times -- Kemp all but saved the Dodgers in the field.

After starter Chad Billingsley blew a four-run lead within a span of 11 batters, relievers Ronald Belisario, Brent Leach, Ramon Troncoso and Jeff Weaver combined for five innings of one-hit relief, as the game remained tied through 11 innings.

The White Sox nicked Weaver for two singles in the 12th.

In the 13th, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski started the inning with back-to-back singles off Weaver. The Dodgers walked Chris Getz intentionally to load the bases.

The Dodgers brought their outfielders in, and Josh Fields lined to Kemp in shallow center. DeWayne Wise then hit a pop fly to Kemp, who made a strong throw home as pinch-runner Gordon Beckham retreated to third.

With two out, the Dodgers moved their outfielders back to normal depth. Podsednik then dropped a line drive a few inches in front of a diving Kemp, who short-hopped the ball, and the White Sox celebrated as Kemp slammed his fist against the ground in frustration.

“It was good placement,” Kemp said. “It was in the right spot.”

Said Weaver: “Just too much of the end of the bat. A little more solidly hit, and it’s a fly out. That’s the way it goes.”

Billingsley took a no-hitter and a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. Both were gone one inning later, amid a flurry of extra-base hits that included a double, a triple, and home runs from Konerko (solo) and Pierzynski (three-run).

“I let it get away,” Billingsley said.

He gave up a season-high five earned runs in his six innings, and four hits, four walks and three strikeouts. His earned-run average jumped to a season-high 3.10. He gave up two home runs in his final two innings, after giving up two home runs in his first 88 2/3 innings this season.

For the second consecutive start, he failed to become the first 10-game winner in the NL. He blew a 4-1 lead to the Angels, then this 4-0 lead to the White Sox.

“I’m not concerned, but it’s a surprise that it happened,” Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said. “We rely on him so much. He’s our guy.”

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