Chad Billingsley leaves Dodgers’ win early

As Dodger Stadium buzzed with talk of the Dodgers’ latest big trade, pitcher Chad Billingsley had a 6-3 lead over the Miami Marlins in the fourth inning Friday.

Then, with one out and a 2-0 count on pinch-hitter Gorkys Hernandez, the right-hander suddenly left the game with what the Dodgers later said was a tender right elbow.

The Dodgers went on to win, 11-4, in the opener of their three-game series. But the night also was a setback for Billingsley, who had won his last six consecutive starts.

Before that streak, Billingsley had been on the 15-day disabled list with a sore elbow, which apparently resurfaced.

Billingsley was not immediately available after the game, but Manager Don Mattingly said the pitcher would have an MRI exam on his elbow.

“It’s way too early” to tell the extent of Billingsley’s problem, Mattingly said, but added that he did not hesitate to pull Billingsley from the game.

“This time of the year, we’re not going to take a chance,” Mattingly said.

Billingsley’s reversal again underlined the saying that a club can never have enough pitching, and the Dodgers’ planned trade with the Boston Red Sox includes not only first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Carl Crawford but also veteran starting pitcher Josh Beckett.

As the trade developments hung in the air, Andre Ethier led the Dodgers’ offense with a three-run home run in the first inning and a run-scoring single in the Dodgers’ five-run seventh inning.

Ethier, saying his blistered right palm was feeling “way better,” had a season-high four hits and four runs batted in.

Former Marlin Hanley Ramirez added a two-run homer and Juan Rivera hit a solo home run.

The homers came against starter Nathan Eovaldi, a former Dodger who was sent to the Marlins in the deal that brought Ramirez and reliever Randy Choate to the Dodgers.

Eovaldi (4-8) lasted only three innings, giving up six runs and seven hits as the Dodgers rebounded from a three-game sweep by the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants also won Friday night, so the Dodgers remained three games behind in the National League West with 36 games left in the regular season.

Billingsley needed the Dodgers’ resurgent offense because he was wobbly in the early going, probably because of his arm trouble that limited him to 58 pitches overall.

Billingsley gave up three runs and four hits in the first two innings, including a two-run home run to Jose Reyes in the first inning.

Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo home run in the fifth inning against reliever Jamey Wright (5-3), who took over for Billingsley and went 12/3 innings.

Loney, Riveratrade reaction

The Dodgers’ developing trade includes sending first baseman James Loney to the Red Sox. Loney, 28, also was scratched from Friday’s starting lineup, as was Gonzalez from his game, as the deal gained steam.

But no deal had yet been formally announced and Loney was reluctant to discuss it.

“People are different, but I guess I’m the type of person that until something happens, then that’s when the real reaction is going to happen,” Loney said.

“It’s hard to speculate what your real feelings are going to be.”.

The left-handed Loney entered the game batting .254 with four home runs and 33 runs batted in.

He has been platooned at first base with the veteran Rivera, a right-hander, who now has seven home runs and was batting .238.

Rivera, 34, said he still saw a role for himself, at least as a pinch-hitter, despite the pending addition of Gonzalez, noting that “at least we’re in the National League where people can hit for the pitcher.”

The Dodgers’ Rubby De La Rosa, 23, a hard-throwing pitcher coming off elbow surgery, also is reportedly part of the deal.

But in the meantime, De La Rosa was sent down to double-Chattanooga on Friday and utility fielder Alex Castellanos was called up.

“I’ll keep working, that’s it,” De La Rosa said before leaving the Dodgers’ clubhouse, adding that being traded was “part of the game.”

james.peltz@latimes.com

Times staff writer Dylan Hernandez contributed to this report.