Dodgers Get Trip Off to a Bad Start

Sleepless nights often are followed by disturbing days. So the Dodgers might have expected their 6-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday the moment they checked into their hotel shortly after midnight.

The Armenian Youth Federation was partying hard in the ballroom, and the din didn’t let up until 5 a.m. They were friendly enough kids, telling Nomar Garciaparra they missed him in Boston and, oh yeah, they missed him in Chicago too.

But the discordant music, the whoops and hollers, the tinkling glasses, this was no way to begin a 10-game, three-city trip during a tight pennant race.

In case the Dodgers wondered, the throbbing beat they heard through their walls came from an oud (a string instrument used by ancient Egyptians) and a dumbeg (an hourglass-shaped drum with a lambskin head).

The beat went on at Miller Park. The Brewers ended a 10-game losing streak by pounding Greg Maddux like a dumbeg, scoring three runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth.

It marked the third time in his last four starts Maddux (12-12) has been hit hard.

“They had good at-bats,” he said. “I missed my locations a few times, but they hit me too.”

One blow was literal. With a runner on second and one out in the fifth inning with the score tied, 1-1, Maddux stopped Brady Clark’s comebacker with his leg. The ball rolled only a couple feet in front of him, but he couldn’t locate it, looking to the back of the mound and taking a step toward the rosin bag as if he’d mistook it for the ball.

“I just couldn’t find it,” he said. “It’s hard to see sometimes.”

The result was a single that opened the floodgates. Seven of the next 10 batters had hits, all against Maddux except the finale, a two-run double by Tony Graffanino in the sixth on a pitch by reliever Giovanni Carrara.

It was quite an outburst from a team that batted .213 and averaged fewer than three runs during its 10-game skid.

“Greg got a couple of pitches up and over the middle of the plate,” Manager Grady Little said. “He’s certainly had better days with his command.”

Dodgers starters are following poor days with poorer ones. Only Derek Lowe is pitching consistently well, Chad Billingsley’s next start was pushed back again because of his strained side, Brad Penny isn’t getting deep into games and Maddux more closely resembled the struggling pitcher who posted a 4.69 earned-run average in 22 starts with the Cubs than the savior who had been 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA in six starts with the Dodgers.

“If we have to continue going into the bullpen in the sixth inning, it will be difficult,” Little said. “Our bullpen is deep, but if we need those guys early on a regular basis, it will catch up with us in a hurry.”

Carrara, back with the team after being designated for assignment two weeks ago, replaced Maddux with the bases loaded and the score 4-3. He got two strikes on Graffanino but couldn’t get him out.

The Dodgers’ offense, feisty to that point, withered. Right-hander Dave Bush (10-10) lasted 7 1/3 innings, and two relievers had no trouble.

The best opportunity came in the sixth. Kenny Lofton led off with a single, stole his 25th base and scored on a single by J.D. Drew, who also doubled twice. Jeff Kent hit a ground-rule double and Andre Ethier walked, loading the bases with one out.

Wilson Betemit struck out, however, and although Russell Martin singled to bring in Drew, Kent was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Corey Hart, leaving the Dodgers behind, 4-3.

At least they were able to catch up on their sleep Monday night. The Armenian Youth Federation checked out after an invigorating breakfast of basturma (cured Armenian beef), eggs and foule (fava beans).

It wasn’t the first time the Dodgers have shared a hotel with a boisterous group. About 20 years ago a gospel singers convention kept them awake in Atlanta, and more than 40 years ago in Milwaukee, revelers were so loud that several players ducked into a theater during the day to catch a few winks before the game.

This is no time for fatigue. The Dodgers’ lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West shrank to two games, thanks to the Padres’ 7-5 victory over Colorado.

“If we keep playing this way on this trip,” Little said, “we’ll be doing everything we can to keep the race close.”

steve.henson@latimes.com