Andre Ethier sets Dodgers record with 21-game hitting streak in April

Reporting from Chicago

In all of the Aprils in which the Dodgers have played baseball, no one in the franchise’s history has hit in as many consecutive games as Andre Ethier.

With an infield hit off the glove of Chicago Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena, Ethier extended his hitting streak to 21 games — one game longer than Steve Garvey’s streak in April of 1978.

Ethier also singled to left in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 7-3 victory.

Dodgers-Cubs box score

Ethier said cleanup hitter Matt Kemp deserved some of the credit for his recent form.

“He’s a good person to have behind you in any lineup,” Ethier said. “It provides me with opportunities to swing the bat.”

Kemp is batting .402.

Only one player has hit in more consecutive games in April: former Dodgers manager Joe Torre.

Dodgers-Cubs: How the runs were scored

Torre hit in 22 consecutive games in April of 1972 when he played for the St. Louis Cardinals.

The last Dodger to hit in 21 consecutive games or more was Nomar Garciaparra, who had a 22-game hitting streak in 2006.

The longest hitting streak in Dodgers history is 31 games by Willie Davis in 1969.

Big day for little man

Utility infielder Aaron Miles reached base four times, as he was three for five with a triple. He also was the beneficiary of a throwing error by second baseman Darwin Barney.

Miles started at second in place of injured Juan Uribe. He batted leadoff.

“I finally got some to fall in,” Miles said. “Raised my average a little, not hover around that Mendoza line.”

Miles began the game batting .214. He raised his average to .255.

Miles spent a frustrating season with the Cubs in 2009, when he was limited to 74 games because of a couple of shoulder injuries.

“I didn’t get too many boos out there,” he said. “There are still some leftover boos from when I was here.”

Quick redemption

Among the last players to leave the dugout after the Dodgers’ come-from-ahead defeat Saturday was Blake Hawksworth, who inherited two runners in the eighth inning and allowed them to both score on a double by Jeff Baker.

“I don’t like losing,” Hawksworth said. “I don’t like giving up other people’s runs.”

Hawksworth returned Sunday and pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

“I wanted to get him back out there,” Manager Don Mattingly said.

Mattingly said he was pleased to see Hawksworth pitch aggressively.

Only one man reached base against Hawksworth. Casey Blake dived to catch a sharply hit grounder by Marlon Byrd, but James Loney couldn’t hold onto his throw.

Hawksworth said he was grateful for the opportunity to return to the mound.

“That’s what all of us as relievers want,” he said. “You don’t want to sit on it. It allows more time for thoughts, clutter to get in your head.”

Short hops

Uribe sat out his second consecutive game because of a tight thigh muscle. He remains day-to-day. … Backup catcher Dioner Navarro, who has been on a rehabilitation assignment with double-A Chattanooga, could be activated Monday. ... Kemp, who was two for five with a double, has hit safely in his last five games. … Casey Blake was 0 for 2 but reached base three times — twice on walks and once when he was hit by a pitch. Blake is nine for 20 in his last five games.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com