"That is the big thing, slowing the game down, especially late in the game," Broxton said. "If they get something going, you have to slow it down, step back and just go after the guy in front of you. The more times you are out there pitching in big games like that, the better you become at doing that."

Broxton said he took a huge step forward when it came to keeping his mind under control in pressure situations while pitching for the U.S. team in last month's World Baseball Classic.

But the burning question after this game, especially at a time when manager Joe Torre clearly isn't comfortable using some of his relievers in late-inning, pressure situations, is how often Torre can call on Broxton for extra outs, especially this early in the season.

"It isn't something you want to make a habit of, and you have to make sure you're careful about it," Torre said. "You have to have special circumstances before you consider it. And it has to be this kind of game, where you don't have room for error."

It also helps to have extra rest. Broxton hadn't appeared in a game since his previous five-out save on April 17 against Colorado.

"I'll do whatever it takes to help the team win," Broxton said. "It's a long season, and you don't want to burn yourself out in the first month, because come July and August, the games are going to get bigger. You just have to be selective about it."

DODGERS 2, ASTROS 0: RHP Chad Billingsley turned in his best performance yet in what has already been an outstanding month, shutting out the Astros on three hits over 7 1/3 innings. He is 4-0 in four starts this season.

Manny Ramirez drove in the only run the Dodgers needed with a single in the first, and Casey Blake provided the insurance with an RBI double in the seventh.