Dodgers drop series finale in Cincinnati, 7-1

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Is Elymania over?

John Ely, the rookie who came out of nowhere to become a symbol of the Dodgers’ The-Little-Engine-That-Could pitching staff, suffered another resounding defeat Thursday, lasting 4 2/3 innings in a 7-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Charged with seven runs and eight hits, Ely has now given up a total of 15 runs in 14 2/3 innings over his last three starts. But he figures to remain in the rotation, as the Dodgers are only a day removed from putting Chad Billingsley on the 15-day disabled list.

Ely was undone by three home runs, including a three-run blast by Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo in the second inning that put the Dodgers in a 3-1 hole.

Joey Votto crushed a ball over the wall in left-center in the third inning to increase the Reds’ lead to 5-1.

Brandon Phillips homered to dead center in the fifth inning. A Scott Rolen walk and Jonny Gomes single later in the inning spelled the end of Ely’s day.

The Dodgers held Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin out of the lineup, and they put Rafael Furcal on the bereavement list, allowing him to return to his native Dominican Republic to visit an ailing relative.

-- Dylan Hernandez in Cincinnati