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Dodgers capitalize on error to edge Nationals

Aug 29, 2007 - 6:03 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Andre Ethier delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning after a critical error to snap a tie as the Los Angeles Dodgers stopped the Washington Nationals, 4-3, on Tuesday.

Jeff Kent homered for the 362nd time to surpass Joe DiMaggio and tie Jason Giambi for 65th on the all-time list for the Dodgers (69-63), who have won nine of their last 13 and moved within 4 1/2 games of the National League West Division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks (74-59).

After a seventh-inning home run by pinch hitter Tony Batista off Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley tied the contest at 3-3, the Dodgers mounted their winning rally in the bottom half.

"We managed to come up with that big hit to tie the game, but they came right back and took the lead late in the game," Nationals manager Manny Acta said.

Also in a pinch-hitting role, Mark Sweeney belted a one-out double to center field off Chris Schroder (1-1).

"I was just trying to get on base in anyway in that situation," Sweeney said. "Getting an extra-base hit was even better for us. We still have a long road ahead of us and we just have to worry about us and not the teams we are chasing."

After Rafael Furcal worked a walk, Ray King entered and induced Juan Pierre into hitting what appeared to be a potential inning-ending double play, but shortstop Felipe Lopez had the hard shot glance off his glove for an error that loaded the bases.

"We're dead-last in the major leagues in runs scored, so we needed our defense and our bullpen," Acta said. "Unfortunately, these last few days it hasn't been there."

Ethier followed with a sacrifice fly to center field.

"We got timely hitting when we needed it tonight," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "Were playing good right now, were just playing good."

Billingsley (9-4) pitched in and out of trouble, taking a 3-2 lead into the seventh before Batista homered over the right field wall for his first blast since May 21, 2006 for the Minnesota Twins against the Milwaukee Brewers.

"I got deep in the game and got some key double plays to help me get out of some innings," Billingsley said. "It's always nice when I can come out and pitch good and give the club a big win late in the season."

The righthander departed after the seventh inning, yielding three runs and eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts. He allowed just a run in a 27-pitch first inning despite surrendering an RBI double to Dmitri Young and hitting consecutive batters.

"I can't go out and think about the teams ahead of us in the standings," Billingsley said. "I just have to go and pitch my game."

Billingsley worked around a leadoff single in the third, another in the fifth and two hits to start the sixth. The Nationals scored their second run in the fourth on a triple by Ronnie Belliard and sacrifice fly by Brian Schneider.

"He (Billingsley) pitched a good game," Young said. "We had chances to score runs but we just couldn't come up with that big hit."

Jonathan Broxton worked a scoreless eighth and Takashi Saito logged the ninth for his 36th save.

"Saito has just been great for us this year," Little said. "The bullpen has picked up the slack lately which is a big part of our team winning games."

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the second on a two-run single to left by Shea Hillenbrand off Washington starter Jason Bergmann. Kent, who started the inning with an infield roller, belted his 17th homer of the season in the third for a 3-1 edge.

Bergmann, who was making his first start since July 24 after a stint on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury, yielded three runs and six hits in six innings in his first career appearance against Los Angeles.

"I felt like I pitched a good game, especially after the way I have been throwing the ball lately," Bergmann said. "I managed to keep us in the game but we just couldn't get it done."