The Dodgers finally are ready to take a chance on veteran left-hander Eric Milton, whose contract was purchased from Class AAA Albuquerque on Thursday. Milton was signed to a minor league contract just before the start of spring training, and although the deal included an escape clause he could exercise at the end of camp if he didn't make the club, Milton agreed to go to Class AAA anyway.
Once he got there, he went 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA. In his final five appearances for the Isotopes, Milton allowed two earned runs over 26 innings. Milton is scheduled to start for the Dodgers on Saturday at Florida. He will be making his first major league appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow June 15, 2007, while with Cincinnati.
Milton will be taking the rotation spot of fellow veteran Jeff Weaver, who also came to camp on a minor league contract and began the season at Albuquerque. Weaver, who is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three appearances for the Dodgers, including two starts, will go to the bullpen, while rookie right-hander James McDonald was optioned to Albuquerque.
McDonald began the season in the rotation, struggled and ultimately was sent to the bullpen. He has a 6.75 ERA in 10 total appearances, and he walked 16 batters in 18 2/3 innings while striking out only nine.
DODGERS 5, PHILLIES 3 (10 innings): Jonathan Broxton blew a two-run lead after retiring the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth, but the Dodgers came back with two in the 10th off Chad Durbin, those runs scoring on two-out doubles by Russell Martin and Matt Kemp. Chad Billingsley went seven solid innings, holding the Phillies to a run and three hits in a marquee matchup against Cole Hamels, and the Dodgers improved to 9-2 against left-handed starters.
