Dodgers look at end game after 4-0 loss to San Diego

Joe Torre did everything but say the Dodgers’ season was over.

He started mid-level prospect Russ Mitchell at first base. He added a sixth pitcher to the rotation, at least in part to give Clayton Kershaw a couple of extra days of rest. And he spoke of his Dodgers’ forlorn season in the past tense, taking his share of responsibility for the team’s failures.

“I wish I could have been more help in finding something that would have made a difference,” Torre said.

The lineup the debt-saddled Dodgers fielded in their sweep-sealing 4-0 defeat to the first-place San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Wednesday was like a who’s who of role players and journeymen, prompting a question about Torre’s share of responsibility.

“It’s my responsibility,” Torre said. “There’s no question. It wouldn’t be fair to anybody if I’m sitting back saying, ‘This guy’s not doing this and this guy’s not doing this, so it’s not my fault.’ It’s my responsibility to try to help them through bad times and make them better by conversation.”

Asked whether he felt the Dodgers were still in contention, Torre replied, “Not until we… we need to put something together. We can’t get in until we win games. Am I giving up? No, I’m not giving up.”

Told the Dodgers would have to win the remainder of their games to have a chance of reaching the postseason, Torre said, “We have to win one or two in a row first.”

The Dodgers are two games under .500 and 11 games back of the Padres in the National League West with 22 games left. They also trail the Atlanta Braves in the wild-card race by 11 games.

The way the Dodgers fell Wednesday was similar to how they fell in their previous four games, as they pitched decently but couldn’t hit anything.

The Dodgers were shut down by rookie left-hander Cory Luebke, who at 25 was making only his second major-league start. Over the six innings Luebke pitched, the Dodgers were held to two hits.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on a run-scoring single by Miguel Tejada. They added three more runs in a sixth inning in which Mitchell threw a ball into the back of Luis Durango when he was running to second base. Mitchell, who making his major-league debut, is a natural third baseman.

Ethier, Loney don’t start

With the Dodgers facing a left-hander in Luebke, Torre kept Andre Ethier and James Loney out of the starting lineup.

Ethier has hit .232 with six home runs and 18 runs batted in in 49 games since playing in his first All-Star game. Ethier, who suffered a broken pinkie in May, struck out 55 times in 200 plate appearances over that span.

Loney has hit .210 with three home runs and 17 RBIs since the All-Star break.

A brief introduction

John Lindsey’s major-league debut started and ended on the on-deck circle.

The 33-year-old who spent 16 years in the minor leagues entered the game as a pinch hitter for Scott Podsednik in the eighth inning with two on and the Dodgers down, 4-0.

That resulted in Padres Manager Bud Black countering by taking left-hander Joe Thatcher out of the game and replacing him with right-hander Luke Gregerson. Before Lindsey could get out of the on-deck circle, Torre pulled Lindsey and replaced him with Ethier, who hit the first pitch thrown to him for an inning-ending double play.

The rotation

Kershaw’s next start will be pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday, the Dodgers adding rookie John Ely to the rotation and taking advantage of an off day Monday to offer their prized 22-year-old left-hander six days of rest.

Hiroki Kuroda will pitch Friday, Ely on Saturday and Vicente Padilla on Sunday.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com