Dodgers pound Marlins, 11-4; Chad Billingsley aggravates elbow

Homecomings are overrated.

Lots of anticipation, too often followed by serious disappointment. As the newest evidence, please see Nathan Eovaldi.

While everyone associated with the Dodgers was awaiting the final announcement to a blockbuster acquisition of Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Eovaldi returned to Dodger Stadium on Friday night for the first time since he was traded to the Marlins for Hanley Ramirez.

The Dodgers did not welcome their ex-teammate warmly, greeting him with three home runs on the way to romping to an 11-4 victory before an announced crowd of 39,805.

Not that the night was without concern for the Dodgers.

Chad Billingsley, who had been pitching terrifically of late, left the game with one out in the fourth inning with what the Dodgers described as a tender elbow.

Billingsley had won his last six consecutive starts since coming off the 15-day disabled list July 23 with a sore elbow. Aggravating it a second time can’t be good news.

Billingsley got into early trouble in the first inning when Jose Reyes delivered a two-run homer, but the Dodgers came right back against Eovaldi with a three-run homer from Andre Ethier.

Ethier was playing his second game with a choked-up batting stance to take pressure off a quarter-sized blister on his right hand. The new batting style seems to be working just fine. He also added three singles, to finish four for fourfor the first time this season, and had four runs batted in.

After the Marlins tied the score in the second inning, Juan Rivera gave the Dodgers the lead with a solo home run. It is Rivera who figures to lose playing time if the Gonzalez deal is finalized.

Ramirez made it a 6-3 lead when he nearly lined a two-run homer into the right-field pavilion in the third inning.

The Dodgers made it a runaway by adding five runs in the seventh inning, Matt Kemp and Ethier each driving in a run with a single. The Dodgers added three more on a pair of Miami errors.

Jamey Wright, who gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings after relieving Billingsley, was credited with the victory to raise his record to 5-3.

The Dodgers finished with 13 hits off five Miami pitchers. Eovaldi (4-9) was charged with six runs on seven hits in three innings.

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