CHICAGO — All the turmoil surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers off the field doesn’t seem to be affecting the team’s on-field performance.
Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer, Andre Ethier extended his major league-best hitting streak to 19 games and the surging Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 12-2 Friday.
Uribe also had a run-scoring single in a six-run third inning and a sacrifice fly in the sixth, giving him nine RBIs in his past three games and 12 this season. Pinch-hitter Marcus Thames added a two-run drive in the ninth as Los Angeles set a season high for runs and hits (14).
The Dodgers have won five of six games, including three straight since Major League Baseball seized control of the team. Commissioner Bud Selig told owner Frank McCourt on Wednesday that he would appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and day-to-day operations of the club.
“We’re concentrating on what we have to do,” pitcher Chad Billingsley said. “What it takes for each game to get ready. That’s the only thing we can control.”
Billingsley (2-1) made the most of Friday’s ample run support, pitching into the seventh inning in his second straight solid start. He also capped Los Angeles’ biggest inning of the season with an RBI single for his first hit in 2011.
Billingsley gave up two runs — one earned — and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, improving to 3-0 in his past three starts against the Cubs. He was coming off a masterful outing against St. Louis in which he struck out 11 over eight shutout innings in a 2-1 victory.
“The guy knows how to pitch for sure and, like most veteran guys, knows how to pitch with a lead,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said.
Ethier went 1 for 2, walked twice and scored. The all-star right fielder is batting .417 (30 for 72) with two homers and 10 RBIs during his career-best hitting streak.
Before the game, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he is operating under the same budgetary guidelines he had before Selig’s announcement and that he reports to McCourt until an administrator is appointed.
The Dodgers have been consumed by infighting since Jamie McCourt filed for divorce after 30 years of marriage in October 2009, one week after her husband fired her as the team’s chief executive.
