Dodgers end day to remember with 6-1 victory over Cubs

Now that was a day. The kind the Dodgers haven’t seen much of the past couple years.

Before Friday’s game they acquired another solid starting pitcher in Joe Blanton and also claimed Cliff Lee on waivers before beating the Cubs, 6-1, behind new hitter Hanley Ramirez, old hitter A.J. Ellis and a new-old pitcher Chad Billingsley.

Blanton is scheduled to join the Dodgers Saturday and make his first start in one of the following three days. The Dodgers claimed him on waivers from the Phillies, and the two teams then agreed on a trade for the ol’ player to be named later.

The Dodgers then stunned many by executing the same maneuver on the Phillies ace, Lee. He’s guaranteed $95 million through the 2015 season but apparently the Dodgers’ new ownership did not blink. Going after Lee is their strongest statement yet that they are prepared to spend what it takes to win now.

However, Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told Philadelphia reporters it did not matter if Lee had been claimed.

“It is irrelevant because he is not going anywhere,” Amaro said.

Of course, GMs say a lot of stuff.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers went out and had their way with the Cubs to snap a three-game losing streak and remain a half-game back of the Giants in the National League West.

Ellis hit two solo home runs for the first multi-hit homer game of his career. He added a single to go 3-for-3 on the night, causing famed announcer Vin Scully to ask that fans get him trending on Twitter. Within mere minutes, he was.

Ramirez, who started his career as a Dodger in his new home by going hitless in 10 at-bats, doubled and scored the go-head run in the fifth and then singled in two more in the sixth. Starting his first game at shortstop, he went 2 for 4 on the night.

And then there was Billingsley, who continued a remarkable run since coming off the disabled list. Billingsley was 4-9 with a 4.30 ERA when he went on the DL July 17 with a sore elbow.

In his three games since being returning, he has gone 3-0 with a 0.88 ERA.

Friday he held the Cubs – who had won 19 of their last 31 – to one run on four hits and two walks, striking out seven.

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