Josh Lindblom

Cory Sullivan is what you might safely call a long shot. As in, the longest of shots. He's a 32-year-old outfielder, trying to catch on with his fifth team in five years. A left-handed hitter who last season played for the Phillies' triple-A team, and was then released. But Sullivan must have learned how to make an entrance during all his stops, because he is off to a big-time start with the Dodgers. After getting three hits Wednesday, he came back Saturday in the nightcap of a split-squad contest to break a tie score with a crushing, ninth-inning grand slam that propelled the Dodgers to a 10-6 victory over the White Sox. After seven spring games, Sullivan now leads the Dodgers in hitting (.455)

Colorado 3, Dodgers 1 AT THE PLATE: With only one projected starter in their lineup, the Dodgers were one for 11 with runners in scoring position. ON THE MOUND: Josh Lindblom had a rough first inning, as he gave up four hits, including a two-run home run to Todd Helton. Lindblom pitched five innings and was charged with three runs and eight hits. EXTRA BASES: Jamey Carroll is quietly having a solid spring. Starting at third base, he was three for four to improve his average to .370.

SAN DIEGO -- Clayton Kershaw must have been spending too much time around Andre Ethier. Ethier missed Saturday's Freeway Series game against the Angels with a stomach bug, and it apparently made its way to Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw started the season opener for the Dodgers on Thursday, despite battling the flu. After three innings, however, the flu won and Kershaw left the game against the Padres. Kershaw did not give up a run in his three innings, walking one and striking out one. He also had the Dodgers' first single, so at least he left with a perfect ERA and batting average.

Is that the end of Shane Victorino, Los Angeles Dodger? Logic says it is. Victorino will become a free agent at the end of the postseason. He expects to sign with a team to be an everyday outfielder. And the Dodgers' 2013 outfield appears set, with rehabbing Carl Crawford expected to join Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier next season in what could be one of baseball's best units, if not its most expensive ($387 million). Victorino, however, said he would like to come back to the Dodgers.

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies started the 2011 season the way the Dodgers have started this one. "So much for 17-8, right?" Rockies Manager Jim Tracy said Tuesday. The 2011 Rockies, who won 17 of their first 25 games, finished the season with a losing record and in fourth place in the National League West. Over their last 139 games, they were 56-83. "I remember that," Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said. "See, that's what I'm saying. Nobody is going to remember a good start.

Well, he'll always have 2009. But anything resembling that nice season is looking pretty unlikely for reliever Ramon Troncoso after the Dodgers designated him for assignment Thursday to make room for Ronald Belisario on the 40-man roster. Nothing about the move was exactly surprising. Troncoso was out of options and clearly wasn't going to make the team. And Belisario can't start serving his 25-game suspension until he's on the roster Troncoso is 29 and likely to clear waivers, so it's not like he can't return to triple-A, though he may also be ready for a fresh start.

Greatest managerial move of the year: The Dodgers were down by two in the seventh inning Sunday, had two runners on and a 3-0 count on rookie pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke. And Manager Don Mattingly let him swing away. Van Slyke did not disappoint, absolutely tagging a Marc Rzepczynski changeup deep into the left-field pavilion. It was only his ninth at-bat in the majors and first home run. The three-run homer gave the Dodgers a 6-5, come-from-behind victory and a sweep of the world champion St. Louis Cardinals before an announced crowd of 44,005 and pushed their division lead over the Giants to seven games.

The names on the rosters have changed, but the results haven't. The Angels of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols are as dominant against the Dodgers as were the Angels of Vladimir Guerrero and Chone Figgins. The annual interleague showdown between the Dodgers and Angels ended the way it usually does, with the Angels taking four of six games of their season series, the last of them a 5-3 victory at Angel Stadium on Sunday. "They're a good club," Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said.

Reporting from Washington — Chad Billingsley insisted he isn't hurt and Manager Don Mattingly said there are no signs that anything is physically wrong with the Dodgers right-hander— no skipped bullpen sessions, no visits to the trainer's room. Whatever it is, something is clearly wrong with Billingsley, who lasted only 21/3 innings in the Dodgers' 7-4 victory over the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday. The second game was rained out. Billingsley was charged with four runs, five hits and three walks.