Dodgers get blindsided in a seven-in-seven game

Chad Billingsley tried with his arm and bat to lift the Dodgers into the sole possession of the National League West lead for the first time this season.

But the Atlanta Braves, leaders of the NL East, had another outcome in mind.

After Billingsley shut out the Braves for six innings and entered the seventh with a 2-0 lead, Atlanta scored seven runs against Billingsley and relievers Ramon Troncoso and Ronald Belisario to take a 9-3 victory Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.

Manager Joe Torre said Billingsley pitched well and that the Dodgers’ relievers, who had been strong in recent games, simply had an off night.

“You’d like to think good things are going to happen every time you pick up the phone” to the bullpen, Torre said. “Our bullpen has been doing a really good job for us. Unfortunately, the roof caved in tonight and hopefully we can get everything organized again tomorrow.”

San Diego had lost earlier in the day, so a Dodgers win would have lifted the club, the defending NL West champions, above the Padres by one-half game.

The only other time the Dodgers led the division this year was when they were tied with San Diego for first place on May 21-22.

But first place would have to wait after Atlanta’s bats came alive in the seventh inning.

The Braves scored one run against Billingsley on consecutive singles by Yunel Escobar, Nate McLouth and pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad. After Billingsley was replaced by Troncoso and Martin Prado’s bunt moved the runners to second and third, Omar Infante singled in both runs.

The Braves were just getting warmed up.

Troncoso then walked Jason Heyward and gave up a double to Brian McCann that scored Infante and Heyward. And after Belisario replaced Troncoso, Troy Glaus slammed a two-run home run and many fans started heading for the exits.

McCann singled in two more off Charlie Haeger in the eighth to give the Braves a 9-2 lead.

Up to the seventh it was a pitchers’ duel, and Billingsley helped his own cause to give the Dodgers an early lead. The right-hander slugged a two-out double to the left-center field wall off Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson in the second inning to score Blake DeWitt, who had singled.

It was Billingsley’s third hit of the season and his first run batted in.

And in the third inning, Matt Kemp belted a triple over the head of McLouth, the Braves’ centerfielder, then tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by Andre Ethier to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Otherwise, Hanson didn’t give the Dodgers much breathing room, yielding only the two runs on eight hits in his six innings of work.

The Dodgers had a chance to take a lead in the first inning when Ethier received a two-out walk from Hanson and Manny Ramirez singled. But James Loney struck out to end the threat.

After winning four games in a row, Billingsley had no decision in his prior outing when the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-4, as he gave up four runs in eight innings and struck out 11 batters.

Billingsley had been the Dodgers in microcosm so far this season, steadying himself after enduring a shaky April. And just as the 25-year-old has steadily improved, the Dodgers entered Saturday night’s game having won five of their last six games and 21 of their last 28.

Billingsley, who came out after throwing 110 pitches, said he “had good command” for most of the night but that the Braves took advantage of their opportunities.

“That’s the way this game goes,” Billingsley said. “They’re a good ballclub and they jumped on us pretty good there.”Much of their success has come against NL West teams, with the Dodgers entering Saturday’s game with an 18-5 record against division rivals. But they’ve struggled against NL East teams, going 3-8 before Saturday night.

A year ago on June 5, the Dodgers’ record was 38-19 and they led the division by eight games.

james.peltz@latimes.com