Reds’ speed leaves Dodgers with 4-3 loss and a 3-game losing streak

And now presenting those loooosing Dodgers. That’s right, the Dodgers -- destroyers of worlds -- are in a funk.

They fell, 4-3, in 10 innings to the Cincinnati Reds, leaving them with their first three-game losing streak in three months.

Three losses may not sound like the end of their baseball world, but given that they had won 36 of their previous 44 games, it’s nothing if not a change of pace.

It was their second consecutive one-run loss to the Reds, and in this one they were done in by the speed of stolen-base sensation Billy Hamilton.

In the top of the 10th, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly elected to leave his speedster, Dee Gordon, on the bench after a leadoff single by Adrian Gonzalez. Nick Punto ran for him and never moved, then stayed in the game at third base with Michael Young moving to first.

Given a similar situation in the bottom of the inning when Brian Wilson walked leadoff hitter Ryan Ludwick, Reds Manager Dusty Baker had Hamilton come in to pinch-run. He stole second easily and then scored the winning run on a single by Todd Frasier.

It’s the first time the Dodgers have lost three consecutive games since June 8-10.

Zack Greinke started the day game and got off to an uncharacteristic rough start. After a Hanley Ramirez RBI single had given Greinke an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, he gave up four consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the inning, and the Reds took a 2-1 lead.

That equaled the most runs Greinke had allowed in an entire game in his previous seven starts.

It was a short-lived lead, however, what with the Yasiel Puig again demonstrating his flair for dramatics in a nationally televised game. Puig followed an A.J. Ellis single with his 15th home run to put the Dodgers up, 3-2, in the second.

Greinke didn’t allow another run, but with his pitch count up, he lasted only six innings. His best performance came in the fifth when the Reds loaded the bases with one out, and he struck out Jay Bruce and Ludwick.

Greinke, who had won his last six starts, was not involved in the decision. He allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out nine in his six innings.

Cincinnati starter Mat Latos went seven innings for the Reds, allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk, with three strikeouts.

The Reds tied things in the seventh against Paco Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, who struggled Friday night, gave up a one-out single to Shin-Soo Choo and an RBI double to Cesar Izturis.

The Dodgers were 21-13 in one-run games before coming to Cincinnati.