Dodgers can’t meet Arizona in the middle in 7-2 loss

Dodgers pitcher Ted Lilly did not allow a hit until the fifth inning as he dueled Arizona Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders.

But Lilly was saddled once again with the Dodgers’ familiar nemesis this season, poor run support, so he was working with a mere one-run lead that proved not nearly enough.

Arizona tagged Lilly and relievers Matt Guerrier and Scott Elbert for five runs in the sixth inning on its way to a 7-2 win that, for the Dodgers, spoiled the opening game of their final homestand of the season.

The Diamondbacks (86-62), who are cruising toward postseason play with a comfortable lead in the National League West, also pushed the Dodgers (72-74) back to two games under .500.

Lilly, 35, got into trouble in the sixth inning when Willie Bloomquist hit a bloop single and then scored on Aaron Hill’s double down the left-field line, tying the score, 1-1.

After Hill stole third base without a throw, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly lifted Lilly (9-14) for Guerrier. Paul Goldschmidt hit Guerrier’s first pitch for a single, with Hill scoring, and the roof began caving in on the Dodgers.

Lilly “threw the ball well [but] nothing seemed to work out tonight,” Mattingly said. “It’s frustrating.”

Ryan Roberts later had a run-scoring single off Guerrier in the inning, and Elbert gave up a bases-loaded single to Gerardo Parra, scoring two more Arizona runs.

Parra struck again in the eighth inning when he lined a two-run double off Dodgers reliever Mike MacDougal.

Saunders (11-12), the former Angel, allowed the two Dodgers runs and four hits in his seven innings of work. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the ninth inning but weren’t able to score.

Kemp maintains pace

Matt Kemp, burnishing his most-valuable-player credentials, slugged a solo home run in the first inning for the Dodgers’ initial run.

Kemp hit a 2-1 pitch off the left-handed Saunders into the right-field pavilion for his 33rd home run of the season.

That tied Kemp for second in home runs in the National League behind Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has 35.

The Dodgers also scored in the seventh inning when rookie Jerry Sands singled home Aaron Miles from third base.

Cy Young Award battle

The Dodgers might be able to give their ace Clayton Kershaw a helping hand in the left-hander’s bid to win this year’s Cy Young Award.

Perhaps Clayton’s strongest rival for the pitching honor is Arizona starter Ian Kennedy (19-4), the Huntington Beach native who will try to win his 20th game of the season Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Kershaw (18-5) will seek his 19th victory Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks.

Short hops

Asked whether reliever Jonathan Broxton would pitch in the final two weeks of the season, as the Dodgers had hoped, Mattingly said it “doesn’t look like it.” The right-hander has been on the disabled list since May 4 with a bruised throwing elbow…. Josh Rawitch, vice president of communications and the Dodgers’ lead spokesman, said that he is leaving after this season to take a similar post with the Diamondbacks.

james.peltz@latimes.com