Mets crash Dodgers’ party, 5-2

The Dodgers did what they could to recapture their past glory.

They sold some tickets for as little as $4 to ensure Dodger Stadium would be as full as it was on previous Independence Days.

They promised a fireworks show.

On the field, James Loney turned back the pages of the calendar, driving in runs the way he used to in better times. Rookie Rubby De La Rosa pitched like the legendary pitchers who used to call this ballpark home.

But the Dodgers couldn’t escape the present.

De La Rosa’s no-hitter was broken up in the sixth inning by the financially troubled New York Mets, who sent the even more financially troubled Dodgers to a 5-2 defeat Monday night.

When San Francisco Giants castoff Eugenio Velez struck out in a pinch-hit at-bat to end the game, the announced crowd of 56,000 reacted the way Dodgers fans in 2011 often do.

They booed.

The Dodgers walked off the field a season-worst 12 games under .500. They are last, 11 games behind the first-place Giants in the National League West and two games behind the fourth-place San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers acted out a familiar script.

De La Rosa was charged with three runs in the sixth inning and nothing else. For pitching seven innings in his second consecutive start, he was rewarded with his fourth consecutive defeat, as the Dodgers were two for 14 with men in scoring position.

“We have to find ways to get runs across,” said Tony Gwynn Jr., who led off the fifth inning with a double but didn’t score.

Considering the Dodgers haven’t scored consistently this season, have they reached a point where it’s fair to say they aren’t capable of more?

Loney said he didn’t think so.

Loney pointed to the 15 runs the Dodgers scored in Minnesota on June 27.

“So, it’s not like we don’t have the capability,” he said.

But, Loney conceded, “It’s been a long stretch. We’ve been in it for a while. Hopefully, we’ll bust out of it tomorrow.”

Loney offered false hope that they could start doing so Monday, as he singled in Matt Kemp in the second inning to put the Dodgers up, 1-0. Loney doubled the lead two innings later, when he drove in Kemp with another hit to left-center field.

Meanwhile, De La Rosa was cruising. He walked Carlos Beltran in the fourth inning but was otherwise perfect through the fifth.

A single by Ruben Tejada to start the sixth inning changed everything. Tejada was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Chris Capuano. Angel Pagan doubled to drive in Tejada, Beltran doubled to drive in Pagan and Daniel Murphy doubled to drive in Beltran.

The Mets were up, 3-2.

“We got deflated,” Manager Don Mattingly said.

Aaron Miles, one of the few players who didn’t rush out of the clubhouse to beat the fireworks-related traffic, said he didn’t feel that way.

“I see my teammates as a bunch of grinders,” he said. “It’s been tough, but we’re grinding out every at-bat. Nobody’s giving up in here.”

Miles is part of a quirk in the Dodgers’ lineup: The players who wore Nos. 5 (Juan Uribe), 6 (Miles) and 7 (Loney) batted fifth, sixth and seventh in the lineup.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com