DODGERS WILT IN DESERT THEY LOSE TWO IN A ROW TO END IMPORTANT TRIP ARIZONA 2, DODGERS 0.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

PHOENIX - In another month and under different circumstances, winning five of seven games games on a roadtrip would be considered a success.

But this is September and the Dodgers are involved in a tight Wild Card race. So with the stakes much higher and time of the essence, the standards change accordingly.

That's why a 2-0 loss like the one they suffered Thursday against Arizona becomes so glaring, especially after blowing a four-run lead the night before in one of the more debilitating losses this season.

The loss Thursday at Bank One Ballpark drops the Dodgers 3 1/2 games behind in the National League wild-card race, and on a night when they mustered just four hits and five baserunners, the aftershock of Wednesday's eighth inning collapse was very much apparent.

The Diamondbacks won by scoring two unearned runs in the seventh inning and getting a strong pitching performance from Chris Capuano, who was making a spot start for the injured Curt Schilling.

``We came out a little flat,'' Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca said. ``We didn't play well offensively. We just didn't get it done. You have to tip your cap to that kid. He threw a good game.''

Capuano, a left-hander making just his fourth major-league start, struck out four and allowed just three hits.

For the Dodgers, it was reminiscent of so many games this season in which a fine pitching performance was wasted because the offense couldn't create many scoring opportunities.

The unfortunate starter this time was Odalis Perez, who allowed just five hits in seven innings and the two unearned runs. He struck out six and walked three, two of which were intentional. Perez told a Dodger spokesman that he didn't want to talk after the game.

So the Dodgers leave Phoenix having lost two straight after starting the trip with five consecutive wins. On balance, it was a positive trip, but the timing of the two losses left an empty feeling.

``When we were leaving Dodger Stadium, I had a goal on the roadtrip that if we had five wins and two losses we'd be OK,'' Jolbert Cabrera said. ``Unfortunately, it came to the point where we were 5-0 and had a chance to win at least two more games.''

The Diamondbacks scored two in the seventh after Raul Mondesi reached on an Adrian Beltre error. Beltre fielded the ball but bobbled it and rushed his throw. It was wide of first and Mondesi went to second.

Shea Hillenbrand - who hit a two-run homer to start the eighth-inning rally Wednesday - reached on a fielder's choice and Alex Cora made the out at third. Danny Bautista doubled to right-center field and Lyle Overbay was intentionally walked. Matt Kata hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead and pinch-hitter Carlos Baerga, batting for Capuano, singled up the middle for a 2-0 lead.

The Dodgers didn't have many opportunities to score but had runners on second and third in the third inning with one out and didn't score. Cabrera - who had two of the Dodgers four hits - doubled to center with one out, Alex Cora was hit by a pitch and Perez moved Cabrera to third on a sacrifice bunt. But Cesar Izturis popped up to short and Lo Duca flew out to first baseman Lyle Overbay in foul territory.

Capuano retired eight in a row at one point and Matt Mantei pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

``It's still a good roadtrip but now you can't afford to lose games,like (Wednesday and Thursday),'' Lo Duca said. ``We're just making it tougher on ourselves.''

The Dodgers have a nine-game homestand - the final home games of the season - but they'll start with San Diego, which always seems to give the Dodgers fits. The Padres have won six of nine games this season.

``We have to play one game at a time,'' Shawn Green said. ``We need to win. It's a touch race. It would've been nice to win this series. We had our chances.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) The Dodgers Alex Cora grimaces after being hit by a pitch Thursday against Arizona.

Tom Hood/Associated Press

Box:

(1) STORY LINES

(2) NL WILD CARD