DODGERS RISE TO THE TOP WIN OVER ROCKIES PUTS THEM IN FIRST IN NL WEST DODGERS 4, COLORADO 3.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND Staff Writer

Given the general wackiness of the Dodgers' season to this point, it's no surprise that their return to first place in the National League West took place with a wild, dramatic game Thursday night.

Rookie outfielder Andre Ethier hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning, then rookie closer Takashi Saito blew his first save of the season in 13 chances to nearly spoil the Dodgers' night.

It took a veteran to finally seal the deal. Kenny Lofton singled home Julio Lugo with oneout in the ninth inning and the Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 in front of 48,699 fans at Dodger Stadium.

``I would just as soon have it happen a little earlier, but it turned out well,'' manager Grady Little said.

With one out in the ninth against reliever Jose Mesa, Lugo pinch-hit and walked and moved to second on Rafael Furcal's sharp single to left. Lofton took two balls then lined a single to left. Left fielder Matt Holliday's throw was well off line, and Lugo scored easily to hand the loss to Mesa (0-5).

``See the ball, hit the ball. It was a sinker,'' Lofton said. ``We still have a lot of ballgames to go. I'm the kind of guy who looks to be in first at the end of the season.''

It was a big night for Lofton, who also drove in the Dodgers' first run and finished 3 for 4.

The Dodgers' victory, their 12th in their past 13 games, pushed them a half-game ahead of Arizona and San Diego for first place, the Dodgers' first time alone in first place since June 26.

``We're right back in this thing now,'' Dodger starting pitcher Chad Billingsley said.

Not that it came easily, by any means. Billingsley pitched five effective but maddening innings, as he struggled terribly with his control. He allowed only one run and three hits but walked six batters.

Ethier broke a 2-2 tie when he hit a 1-0 pitch from reliever Ray King over the center-field fence in the eighth, but for the first time, Saito blew a save, although defense played a big part in the breakdown.

Todd Helton led off the ninth with a blast to the wall in right field. Jason Repko slipped as he attempted to play the ball, and as Helton ran to third, Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent took the relay throw and threw the ball past Wilson Betemit at third, allowing Helton to trot home.

Saito (4-2) regained his composure quickly, however, and retired the next three Rockies, including two on strikeouts and was given the consolation prize of a victory, thanks to Lofton's heroics.

The Dodgers' return to first place came in a back-and-forth game in which the Dodgers never trailed. They led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 and watched as Billingsley pulled a solid start out of what could have been a nightmare.

Despite an almost complete lack of control, Billingsley managed to slop his way through five innings. In five starts since the All-Star break, Billingsley had turned in a 3-1 record with just seven earned runs allowed in 29 innings, but had continued a season-long struggle with his control.

A bout of wildness struck Billingsley again Thursday. His only run allowed came on a second-inning leadoff home run by Matt Holliday. Billingsley gave up two other hits that inning -- the only hits he would give up in the game -- but he walked six Rockies, including five of six batters in one stretch, and threw 96 pitches in five innings.

``I didn't have anything today,'' Billingsley said. ``I didn't have my good stuff. It was just a day of battling, and I didn't give in to the guys. ... I was able to go out there and keep the team in the game.''

For a few minutes, it looked like Billingsley might get the win. After he left for a pinch-hitter in the fifth, Nomar Garciaparra broke a 1-1 tie with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Furcal.

Colorado tied the game 2-2 in the sixth against Aaron Sele when Cory Sullivan doubled home Yorvit Torrealba, but the dramatics of Ethier and Lofton were still to come.

The Dodgers couldn't manage much against Colorado starter Jason Jennings, who allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings. In three previous starts against the Dodgers this season, Jennings had allowed 13 earned runs in 18 innings.

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The Dodgers' Nomar Garciaparra hits a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

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DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO

- Doug Padilla