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Padres try to shake off hitting woes against Dodgers

Jul 9, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - Missed opportunities have doomed the Padres over their current three-game losing streak. The theme could also ultimately define their season.

San Diego hopes for a turnaround tonight behind Aaron Harang, who is set to return from the disabled list this afternoon for the second contest of a three-game series with the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Padres try to even this set after dropping their third straight one-run game last night. They went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning off Dodgers reliever Javy Guerra, who recovered to secure his third save of the season.

Cameron Maybin doubled to the gap in right-center to lead off the ninth before Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch on his left foot. Rob Johnson was then hit on his hand as he pulled the bat back on a bunt attempt, loading the bases.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly came out of the dugout to the mound, but stayed with Guerra.

"I didn't want him to pull me. I got us in this situation and I just wanted to get the next guy, then the next guy, and then the next guy," Guerra said.

Guerra then fell behind 2-0 in the count to pinch-hitter Kyle Phillips, but came back to strike him out before also fanning Will Venable on three pitches. Jason Bartlett was San Diego's last chance and he lined a ball to center that was tracked down by Matt Kemp.

The lack of offense wasted a solid outing by Mat Latos, who gave up the game's lone run over 7 1/3 innings. The Padres had won 10 of 13 before their current slide and now lead the Dodgers by just one game for fourth place in the National League West.

"We set another level of frustration tonight," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Latos pitched a great game. We leave runners on base all night and then load the bases in the ninth with none out and couldn't score. It's an old story."

Los Angeles was able to capitalize on its few chances, with Rafael Furcal singling home Trent Oeltjen in the eighth inning. It was just Furcal's third hit in 20 at-bats since returning from a 63-game absence due to a strained left oblique and fractured left thumb.

Chad Billingsley (8-7) allowed four hits over eight innings to claim the win, the Dodgers second straight since a 1-7 stretch. It was also just their fifth victory in their last 14 games against the Padres.

Los Angeles now contends with Harang, who returns after making a successful rehab start on Monday.

Harang hasn't pitched in the majors since June 9 due to a right foot contusion, but got through 70 pitches and four innings earlier this week with Class A Lake Elsinore. The outing was so encouraging that the 33-year-old won't need a second rehab start before rejoining the Padres.

"Prior to that start in Lake Elsinore, he showed a lot of improvement. There was no pain in the foot in his baseball activities so ... get him back on the horse," Black told his club's website of Harang.

The righty hasn't allowed more than two runs in each of his past five starts and won back-to-back outings prior to his injury. Harang is 7-2 in 13 starts this season with a 3.71 earned run average.

He is just 3-6 with a 5.37 ERA in nine career starts versus the Dodgers, but beat them on April 10 after allowing just two runs -- one earned -- on three hits over six innings.

Young Dodgers hurler Rubby De La Rosa has pitched a career-high seven innings in each of his last two starts, but will still be hoping to avoid a fifth straight losing start today.

De La Rosa has pitched to a 5.11 ERA over his skid, but the Dodgers have plated just two runs in his last two games. The righty dropped a 5-2 contest to the Mets on Monday, hurling five no-hit innings before allowing three runs in the sixth.

"De La Rosa was pitching really well," New York's Angel Pagan said. "He was missing with a lot of his pitches and we were chasing them, but we were able to make the adjustment."

The 22-year-old De La Rosa fell to 3-4 with a 4.31 ERA in nine games this season, including six starts. The rookie will face the Padres for the first time.

The Dodgers' Andre Ethier went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts last night on the same day he was named to the NL All-Star team. He replaces an injured Shane Victorino, who he finished second to in the Final Vote competition.