Bad News for Dodgers

Takashi Saito did not participate in Wednesday’s Dodger bullpen meltdown. On Thursday, he staged one of his own.

After Brett Tomko pitched seven shutout innings, Saito botched the ballgame in the eighth.

Khalil Greene tagged Saito for a three-run home run, the one swing accounting for all the scoring in the San Diego Padres’ 3-0 victory at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers got two hits, off four pitchers.

They lost their fifth consecutive game, and catcher Dioner Navarro and third baseman Bill Mueller left the game with injuries that Manager Grady Little said could force them onto the disabled list.

“We don’t want to peak too soon,” Little said. “At the same time, I’m a firm believer that, if you hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up. We’re getting really close to that point right now.”

Navarro left the game after a foul tip crashed into his right wrist, and Mueller departed because of soreness in his right knee. Navarro is scheduled for an X-ray and CT scan today to check for a fracture, Mueller for an MRI exam to check for ligament and cartilage injury.

After the Dodger relievers gave up 10 runs -- and three home runs -- in three innings on Wednesday, in a loss so deflating that Little called a team meeting after the game, the bullpen failed again.

The record of their relievers fell to 2-11, and the Dodgers spent another day in last place in the National League West.

“It’s demoralizing,” Tomko said. “Any time you lose a bunch of games in a row, it’s not a good feeling.

“You can’t sit and mope. We’ve got to play. Nobody’s going to dig a hole and bury themselves.”

The Dodger relievers, without injured closer Eric Gagne, misfired again. Saito, inheriting a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, walked Brian Giles, gave up a single to Mike Piazza and a two-out home run to Greene.

Saito, the 36-year-old Japanese rookie, gave up one run in his first 13 innings. He has given up five runs and five hits in his last 1 2/3 innings, and he suggested the league has figured him out.

“With one month under my belt, the opposing teams are understanding the way I pitch,” Saito said through an interpreter. “I have to be more aggressive.”

Navarro was injured in the second inning, on a foul tip by Vinny Castilla. After trainers tended to Navarro, he remained in the game, and Castilla hit into an inning-ending double play.

However, Navarro left for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the inning. His understudy, Russell Martin, is hitting .297 at triple-A Las Vegas, with no home runs and a .389 on-base percentage.

Mueller also left after playing the field in the second inning, although he said he hurt his knee on a throw in Wednesday’s game. He said he did not tell the trainers on Wednesday, hoping the pain would dissipate, but instead the pain worsened as he played Thursday.

In 2004, he sat out six weeks after arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in the same knee.

In a prolonged absence, the Dodgers could replace Mueller with Las Vegas prospects Willy Aybar (.349 with six home runs) or Joel Guzman (.327 with six home runs).

Tomko struck out nine and scattered five hits over seven innings, but the more impressive start might have been turned in by San Diego’s Clay Hensley, who pitched six shutout innings and nearly gave his head for his team.

In the second inning, Andre Ethier hit a high hopper over the mound and toward center field. As Hensley turned around to watch the play -- Greene, the shortstop, threw Ethier out -- a piece of Ethier’s broken bat struck Hensley in the back of the head.

Hensley fell to the ground and was surrounded by trainers and teammates. He slowly sat up, then got up, and trainers patched up what appeared to be a gash with four stitches.

He stayed in the game and pitched another 4 2/3 innings, giving up one hit. He left with no decision, and a headache.

* BOX SCORE, DODGER REPORT, D4