Dodgers’ Chances Just About Gonzo

The Dodgers watched helplessly Wednesday night as one of their preseason goals officially became unattainable and another moved further from their grasp in a 2-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

A disappointed crowd of 35,162 watched the Dodgers waste an inspiring seven-inning performance from rookie starter Edwin Jackson -- working on short notice under playoff-type pressure -- and the defeat wrapped up the National League West title for the San Francisco Giants.

Luis Gonzalez connected for two solo home runs (Nos. 25 and 26) against Jackson, who also gave up three singles. Arizona rookie starter Brandon Webb and closer Matt Mantei combined to shut out the NL’s least productive batting order for the 12th time this season.

The Dodgers’ second defeat in as many games this series also made their road more difficult in the NL wild-card race.

They had only three hits in dropping to 3 1/2 games behind Florida with only 12 games remaining. The Dodgers (80-70) also trail Philadelphia and the Chicago Cubs for the league’s last playoff invitation.

“We have no margin for error now,” said center fielder and leadoff batter Dave Roberts, hitless in four at-bats. “You go from playing so well and swinging the bats so well, and then you come up with two runs one night and get shut out tonight.

“Obviously, they pitched well against us, but it doesn’t matter if they throw great or not, you’ve still got to win ballgames. There’s still a chance, but it’s definitely slim. We’ve got our work cut out for us now.”

Jackson (1-1) gave the Dodgers a chance.

The rookie right-hander impressed again in only his second major league appearance, starting in place of left-hander Odalis Perez, who was scratched because of a broken fingernail on his pitching hand.

Jackson pitched six strong innings in defeating Arizona in his debut last week, and he had only one problem Wednesday: Gonzalez.

The All-Star left fielder helped the Diamondbacks (79-73) win their fourth in a row, leading a five-hit attack with his second multi-homer game this season and 18th of his career.

Gonzalez connected on his first blast with two out in the first, homering to center on a 2-and-2 fastball.

Gonzalez got to Jackson again in his next at-bat.

With one out in the third, Jackson homered into the right-center pavilion on a 1-and-1 fastball.

The score: Gonzalez 2, Dodgers 0.

Notice a trend?

Jackson did.

“I just went out and challenged him with fastballs,” said Jackson, who had four strikeouts and two walks.

“I went out and battled and they came out on top. I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the team right now, but they came out on top.”

Webb (10-7) had a big role in that.

The right-hander gave up two hits, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first (Jeromy Burnitz grounded out to end the inning) and worked eight scoreless innings.

Mantei gave up a one-out single to Adrian Beltre, who had two of the Dodgers’ hits, in the ninth, but Beltre was thrown out stretching as he slid past the bag. Burnitz fouled out to the catcher to end the game as Mantei recorded his 25th save and second in as many nights.

“We just have to keep going,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “We’re three games down in the loss column [to Florida]. We’ve lost two days, but we have 12 games left to play, and we obviously have to win a number of those.

“Because of the matchups with the other clubs that we’re chasing, we have to come out here tomorrow and try to win a game in this series, and then get busy this weekend against the Giants.

“Our schedule is very, very tough the rest of the way, but we have to find a way to put together yet one more streak this year. We just have to find a way.”