Blake’s homer helps Billingsley go to 6-1

Maybe there’s a reason why Chad Billingsley hails from Defiance, Ohio.

Although the Dodgers’ pitching ace struggled with control problems Tuesday night, Billingsley doggedly held on until Casey Blake’s three-run homer in the sixth inning led the Dodgers to a 5-3 win over the New York Mets.

Billingsley (6-1) also helped himself become the National League’s first six-game winner with two hits of his own off Mets’ starter John Maine (3-3) in front of 37,857 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (28-13) widened their NL West division lead to 7 1/2 games over the San Francisco Giants and improved their home record to 16-3.

Billingsley’s second hit was a single that came moments after he stood in the on-deck circle and watched Blake’s home run soar into the left-field pavilion, erasing the Mets’ 3-2 lead.

“Home runs are the product of getting good pitches to hit and putting a good swing on them,� said Blake, who leads the Dodgers with nine homers.

“I’ll take them when I can get them.�

And Billingsley’s double in the fourth inning had driven in Blake, the third baseman who returned to the Dodgers’ lineup after sitting out two games because of a sore hamstring.

Another Dodgers infielder, second baseman Orlando Hudson, bruised his left shoulder when he fell after trying to make an over-the-shoulder catch of Jose Reyes’ blooper to right field in the seventh inning.

One of the Dodgers’ leading hitters with a .341 batting average and 27 runs batted in this season, Hudson left the game but no other tests were planned, the Dodgers said.

“He may miss a day or so, he’s just a little bruised in the shoulder,� Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said.

“We were thankful for that. I didn’t know what it was when he left the field.�

Earlier in the game, Hudson -- who missed the final 45 games last season because of a wrist injury when he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks -- also singled to hit safely in his 10th consecutive game and in 19 of his last 20 games.

It was Billingsley who initially looked as if he might not stay in the game too long.

The 24-year-old right-hander struggled to find the strike zone at the outset and threw 86 pitches in the first four innings.

“I wasn’t really laboring, it was more frustration,� Billingsley said.

“I would get a strike and then start picking around the plate and get behind the hitters, and obviously you can’t do that, especially with a tough ballclub.�

Eventually, he said, “I was able to catch my rhythm� and “keep the team close� until Blake’s homer.

Despite his struggles, Billingsley managed seven strikeouts in addition to giving up five walks (one intentional), four hits and three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.

After the Mets loaded the bases in the second inning, Billingsley gave up a single to Maine, the pitcher, that put the Mets ahead 2-1.

They added another run off Billingsley in the third inning when David Wright singled to center to drive home Daniel Murphy.

The Mets (21-18), who made five errors in the Dodgers’ 3-2 win Monday night, also opened Tuesday’s game with more gaffes.

In the top of the first inning, Murphy broke too soon on a steal attempt and was caught in a rundown for the Mets’ third out.

And in the bottom of the inning, Pierre hit an easy fly ball to left that Murphy dropped, allowing Pierre to reach second. Furcal walked and Hudson singled in Pierre.

The Dodgers have scored 43 first-inning runs this season, tops in the big leagues.

A quartet of Dodgers relievers protected Billingsley’s victory: Brent Leach, Ronald Belisario, Cory Wade and closer Jonathan Broxton, who earned his 10th save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

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