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Dodgers close set with Giants

May 19, 2011 - 2:40 PM (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier appeared to be unstoppable over his 30-game hitting streak, but now it seems he can't even buy a hit. Embroiled in an 0-for-17 clip, Ethier and the Dodgers go for a split of a two-game set with San Francisco tonight at Chavez Ravine.

Ethier's last hit was an infield single on May 13 in a home win versus Arizona. The Dodgers have lost four of five games since then and dropped to 2-4 on a seven-game homestand with Wednesday's 8-5 loss in the series opener with the NL West-rival Giants. Ethier was 0-for-4 at the plate, but Matt Kemp homered and Juan Uribe drove in two runs in defeat.

"I like the way our guys kept going, but we fell a little bit short," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

Clayton Kershaw avoided the loss even though he was reached for four runs and seven hits with six strikeouts in five innings of a no-decision. Lance Cormier absorbed the loss for surrendering Cody Ross' go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning.

Los Angeles will visit the White Sox and Astros for three games each after this series with San Francisco, and will hand the ball to Chad Billingsley tonight. Billingsley has lost back-to-back starts and is winless in his four trips to the mound. In Saturday's 1-0 loss versus Arizona, he had a strong outing spoiled and allowed one unearned run in eight innings with eight K's.

Billingsley has given up a total of four earned runs in his last three starts and is 1-0 in two matchups with the Giants this season. The righty has faced San Francisco several times in his career, going 7-3 with a 2.93 ERA over 22 games, 17 of which have been starts.

The defending World Series champion Giants ended a two-game slide last night and won for the eighth time in 11 tries thanks to Ross' blast in the ninth. Ross played an instrumental role in helping the Giants capture a title last season and came through in the clutch against rival Los Angeles.

"We definitely needed this one," said Ross. "He threw me three straight curveballs. You know when you hit it good."

Miguel Tejada had two hits and two RBI and closer Brian Wilson worked around a single in the bottom of the ninth inning for the win despite blowing a save in Los Angeles' three-run eighth. Matt Cain drew the start and did not figure into the outcome with 7 1/3 innings of three-run ball. He struck out seven for a Giants club that is a half-game ahead of Colorado for NL West supremacy.

Speaking of striking out, that's exactly what Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner has done every time he goes for a win. Bumgarner hopes his fortunes change when he gets the nod Thursday and is 0-6 with a 4.25 ERA in eight starts. Bumgarner was last in action on Friday, when he tossed six innings of three-run ball in an 11-4 setback against the Chicago Cubs.

Bumgarner has lasted at least six frames in each of his previous four starts and was beaten by the Dodgers back on April 11. In the 6-1 defeat by the Bay, he permitted five runs and eight hits in five innings. Bumgarner is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in three career meetings (2 starts) with Los Angeles.

The Giants are averaging only 2.13 runs per game when Bumgarner starts.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have split eight matchups this season. with the Dodgers sitting on a 3-2 edge as the host.