Six Straight Singles End Five-Game Winning Streak

The Dodgers didn't have an answer for Wade Miley on Tuesday night, and six consecutive singles to open the fifth inning broken open a close game in a 5-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, snapping the Dodgers' five-game winning streak.

Miley pitched into the seventh inning, allowing just one run while striking out five for his fourth win of the season. The loss dropped the Dodgers' home record to 16-4 on the season.

Chad Billingsley didn't have much command on Tuesday, but managed to plod through the first four innings with minimal damage. To that point, Billingsley had allowed three hits and two walks, and just one run, with the run coming after a wild pitch on a strikeout and a bases-loaded walk.

Then the fifth inning happened. Billingsley faced five batters, and all had the same result:

• Miley singled to shallow left
• Gerardo Parra singled to center
• Willie Bloomquist singled to shallow left
  
• Justin Upton singled to shortstop
  
• Miguel Montero singled to shallow center

Billingsley left after allowing the five consecutive singles, which was his second consecutive start of recording only 12 outs.

The Dodgers have had pretty remarkable starting pitching so far this season, including at times from Billingsley. Through 36 games, the Dodgers have had their starter fail to pitch five innings just six times: once each by Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano, and Aaron Harang, and three times by Billingsley.

The first three short starts - by Kershaw (the flu game on opening day), Capuano, and Harang - all happened in San Diego in the season's opening weekend. Since then, in 30 games, Billingsley has had the only starts of less than five innings.

Javy Guerra entered the game in relief of Billingsley, the earliest in a game Guerra has pitched in his major league career. Guerra came into the most unenviable of positions, as the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded and nobody out. While Guerra allowed a single to his first batter, Jason Kubel, for a 4-0 lead, that was the only damage done as a double play and ground out ended the inning.

Notes

• Mark Ellis went 3-for-4 with a home run and finished the eight-game homestand hitting .320/.414/.640 with two home runs, seven runs scored, and six RBI in seven games.
• A.J. Ellis had two singles in four at-bats, raising his on-base percentage to .455 on the season.
• Tony Gwynn Jr. singled in the bottom of the seventh while batting for Jamey Wright, and Gwynn is four for his last four as a pinch hitter.
• In his first major league start, Scott van Slyke was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
• In his first major league game of 2012, Jerry Sands had a single in four at-bats.
• Jamey Wright allowed one run and three hits in two innings of relief on Tuesday. Those were the first three hits he has allowed at Dodger Stadium all season, a span of six total innings.
  

Tonight's Particulars

Home Runs: Mark Ellis (2)

WP - Wade Miley (4-1): 6 2/3 IP, 8 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

LP - Chad Billingsley (2-3): 4+ IP, 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts