Matt Kemp’s pinch-hit homer not enough in Dodgers’ 6-5 loss to Rockies

When Don Mattingly sent Matt Kemp to pinch-hit in the ninth inning Friday night, he wasn’t thinking as much about the outcome of the game as he was of the center fielder’s consecutive-games streak.

“I knew it was important to him,” Mattingly said.

But Kemp, who was a last-minute scratch from the lineup because of a tight left hamstring, soon shifted the focus from his streak of 269 consecutive games played — tops among active major league players — to whether the Dodgers could win a game they trailed by six runs. By launching a fastball from Matt Belisle over the 23 rows of seats behind the left-field wall at Coors Field, Kemp ignited a five-run charge that left the Dodgers oh-so-close away from overtaking the Colorado Rockies, who held on for a 6-5 victory.

Kemp’s home run was his 19th, the most in the National League.

Asked whether he would be ready to play Saturday, Kemp replied, “We’ll see. I hope so.”

Kemp said he was hurt Thursday night, when he fell a single short of the cycle.

Pulling into second base on seventh-inning double, Kemp said felt something in his hamstring.

“I’ve never had any hamstring injuries,” Kemp said, “so I knew it wasn’t normal.”

Kemp took batting practice and ran before the game, and decided he didn’t want to risk playing.

Mattingly said he was glad Kemp was forthcoming about his injury.

“We can’t afford to lose him for a long period of time,” Mattingly said.

This game underscored that.

Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin had his way with the Dodgers over the eighth innings he pitched, holding them to three hits and three walks.

Chacin’s counterpart, Chad Billingsley, wasn’t nearly as efficient.

Billingsley went into Friday with a 7.24 career earned-run average at Coors Field and didn’t set any new trends in this game. The Rockies mauled Billingsley in a five-run, seven-hit fifth inning that put them ahead, 6-0.

“I left a couple of pitches over the middle of the plate,” Billingsley said. “You can’t do that here.”

Billingsley didn’t make it out of the inning, handing the ball over to Ramon Troncoso, who pitched what turned out to be 21/3 scoreless innings that gave the Dodgers a chance to win.

Kemp’s home run was followed by a single by James Loney. Dioner Navarro hit what appeared to be a game-ending grounder, but a throwing error by third baseman Chris Nelson kept the inning going.

Tony Gwynn Jr. doubled to left, driving in Loney and moving Navarro to third. The Dodgers were down, 6-2.

Gwynn’s double prompted Rockies Manager Jim Tracy to replace Belisle with closer Huston Street, who gave up a two-run single to Aaron Miles, which cut Colorado’s lead to 6-4.

But after Rod Barajas drove in a run, the game ended on Trent Oeltjen’s strikeout.

Kemp said he was pleased that he got into the game, not only for the streak, but also because to keep his rhythm at the plate.

“I don’t want to take days off,” he said.

Kemp has hit six home runs in his last seven games.

Hearing Kemp talk about his latest long ball, Casey Blake called out, “It’s Colorado.”

Kemp laughed.

“It wouldn’t have been gone at Dodger Stadium,” Blake said good-naturedly.

Kemp shook his head.

“He’s a hater,” Kemp said.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com