Dodgers Look Back Sadly

The Dodgers don’t have time to lament wasted opportunities in the final days of a tight National League wild-card race, but they were seemingly stuck in the past Thursday night in a 2-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark.

The Dodgers were still frustrated about squandering a four-run lead in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 5-4 loss and it definitely showed, as a rookie starter and two relievers shut down the listless bunch before 28,459.

Left-hander Chris Capuano limited the Dodgers to three hits over seven innings in his seventh major league appearance. Jose Valverde gave up the Dodgers’ other hit in the eighth, and closer Matt Mantei overwhelmed them again.

Mantei worked his second 1-2-3 ninth inning in as many nights to record his 23rd save while finishing the victory for Capuano (2-3).

The Dodgers wasted seven strong innings from Odalis Perez (12-11), who couldn’t overcome Adrian Beltre’s 18th error while giving up two unearned runs in the seventh.

Pinch-hitters Matt Kata and Carlos Baerga drove in the game’s only runs on a sacrifice fly and two-out single.

The Dodgers failed to score in the third after getting runners on second and third with one out. Arizona third baseman Shea Hillenbrand made a sensational diving catch in the fifth inning to rob Alex Cora of a potential RBI single, Beltre was robbed of an extra-base hit by left fielder Tony Bautista in the seventh, and then the Dodgers faded away quietly in the game.

They’re in danger of doing the same in the once-crowded wild-card race that now has fewer contenders for the league’s final playoff invitation.

The Dodgers (77-68) trail Florida by 3 1/2 games, and are also three games behind Philadelphia with 17 games remaining. They had high hopes for the trip after winning the first five games, but there was a carryover effect after Wednesday’s come-from-ahead loss.

“No doubt about it,” center fielder Dave Roberts said. “You’re feeling really good about yourself, you’ve just won the first five games [on the trip] and you’re up big in the eighth inning.

“Then you have a tough loss like that at this time of year, when you’re fighting to get into the playoffs, and it really hurts. You have to find a way to come out and play well, and play with intensity, but after a loss like that it’s tough.

“Everyone in here is determined to get this done, and we have time to do it, and that’s what we have to focus on. But those guys [the Diamondbacks] built on that momentum from the other night, and they came out really fired up.”

The Dodgers acknowledged they weren’t as energized as Arizona (75-72).

“We came out a little flat today, and we didn’t play well,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “Offensively, we had our shots early. We just came out flat, but the kid pitched a good game.”

The 25-year-old Capuano started in place of injured right-hander Curt Schilling, who was scratched because of neck stiffness.

Capuano entered the game with a 6.10 earned-run average. He had only six previous major league appearances. But he was great against the Dodgers.

“We’ve seen it before, where we face a guy for the very first time and really aren’t aware, first-hand, of what he has,” Manager Jim Tracy said.

“At times, more times than not, it is an advantage for the starting pitcher.”

The Dodgers, who haven’t scored since they took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s loss, still need to get their heads together. Quickly.

“Regardless of what happens the night before, we have to win,” said General Manager Dan Evans, who was with the team in Arizona.

“Obviously, it was a very big loss on Wednesday.... It hurt. But in our situation, we have to win. We have to play tomorrow and keep winning, that’s just the way it is.”