Order fails to restore Dodgers

Meet the new Dodgers batting order. Same as the old Dodgers batting order?

It certainly seemed that way Monday night at Dodger Stadium until the latter innings of their 9-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

After going meekly in the first five innings, the Dodgers sprang to life with a three-run outburst in the sixth, another smidgen of pinch-hitting magic in the seventh and a solo home run in the eighth.

And it still wasn’t enough after starter Brett Tomko struggled for a second consecutive outing and reliever Chad Billingsley uncharacteristically wobbled as Dodgers pitchers assembled an eight-run deficit.

Spurred by his team’s sluggish showing against the Angels over the weekend, Dodgers Manager Grady Little made changes aplenty with the lineup.

He moved Juan Pierre back into the leadoff spot. It didn’t help.

He flipped Nos. 5-6 hitters Luis Gonzalez and Russell Martin, with Martin moving up to the fifth spot. It didn’t really matter.

He moved Andy LaRoche up a spot to No. 7 and Andre Ethier down a spot to No. 8. It didn’t amount to much of anything.

The Dodgers collected seven hits during a defeat that sliced their lead to half a game over San Diego and Arizona in the National League West. And so an offense that had scored only four runs during a three-game sweep by the Angels surpassed that output against Milwaukee starter Jeff Suppan and four relievers -- and still came out on the short end.

“We battled back into the game a little bit, and that was promising for our offense,” Little said. “It’s not something we’re going to judge on one day.”

The Dodgers’ starting rotation could also be in need of a shake-up after Tomko gave up eight hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings against a team he has dominated for most of his career. Prince Fielder hit two homers and Rickie Weeks had a career-high four hits.

“Results are results,” said Tomko (1-5), whose 6.28 earned-run average is more than two runs higher than any other current Dodgers starter besides injured Jason Schmidt. “If you’re not winning, you’re not winning. There’s no way to sugarcoat it.”

Is Tomko concerned about losing his spot in the rotation?

“Not at all,” he said. “If they want to do something, that’s Grady’s decision. I can’t worry about that. It’s been a bad little stretch, but you can’t pack it in.”

Even another strong performance from Rafael Furcal couldn’t help the Dodgers overcome an 8-0 deficit. Dropped from leadoff to No. 2 in the lineup, Furcal continued his scorching run with two hits and a walk.

He started the Dodgers’ sixth-inning rally with a one-out double and scored on Nomar Garciaparra’s single off the glove of third baseman Craig Counsell. Jeff Kent’s two-run homer to left put a momentary charge into the crowd before Suppan (6-4) retired the next two batters.

Wilson Betemit continued his impressive run as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, driving in LaRoche from third base with a single to center. Betemit is five for six with seven runs batted in as a pinch-hitter.

Gonzalez homered off Brewers reliever Derrick Turnbow in the eighth, but Chris Spurling pitched a scoreless ninth.

“We still lost,” Gonzalez said when asked whether there was any solace to be found in the late outburst. “I’ll take a 1-0 win with two hits.... We’ve got to find a way to manufacture some runs early and get on the board early.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com