The Dodgers' 8-5 loss to the Angels on Friday night, the fourth straight loss for the Dodgers, was a different kind of frustrating for the Dodgers. Gone were the offensive woes from Oakland, where they scored just two runs in three games. They had five runs in the first two innings on Friday.

"We just forgot about what happened in Oakland. We just concentrated on today. We scored some runs, which was good," said Bobby Abreu, who hit a three-run home run in the opening frame. "We attacked pretty good in the first inning. We scored some runs, and put some pressure on them. We just need to keep on doing this."

The Dodgers built a 5-0 lead in two innings, but by the end of the fourth inning the Angels held a 6-5 advantage.

"You get a lead early and you try not to walk guys, you try to attack the strike zone," said Chad Billingsley, who took the loss after allowing six runs and 10 hits in five innings. "They are a very dangerous lineup. I just didn't get the job done today."

Given that a bulk of the pregame conversation with manager Don Mattingly centered on Billingsley's inconsistency, losing a game with a 5-0 lead was even more maddening. "That's why you guys ask me all those questions every few days," Mattingly said after the game.

"You have to be able to stop that bleeding, slow yourself down, make quality pitches, and manage those innings," Mattingly said.

But despite the loss, Mattingly was able to provide some levity after the game. Keeping with a pregame vow to not get ejected on Friday, Mattingly didn't argue in the sixth inning when Dee Gordon was called out by first base umpire Dan Iassogna to complete a double play, an extremely close play.

"I complimented him," Mattingly said of Iassogna. "I said, 'You guys are usually really good on those'."

Up Next

The Dodgers look to snap their second four-game losing streak of the season on Saturday, with Chris Capuano on the mound looking for his ninth win. Ervin Santana, who pitched a one-hitter last Saturday, takes the mound for the Angels.