FINDING A WAY TO RUN DODGERS PICK UP GROUND IN RACE.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND 

Staff Writer

Dodgers manager Grady Little mused Tuesday afternoon about the game last week in which his team, which is usually offensively challenged, scored 15 runs and rolled to victory.

"We didn't know how to act," Little joked. "We're more comfortable with those 5-4 or 4-3 games."

Apparently so. For the second consecutive night, the Dodgers didn't make it easy on themselves against one of the National League's worst teams, but once again they picked up important ground in the playoff race with a 4-3 victory over Washington on Tuesday night in front of 49,698 at Dodger Stadium.

Another narrow victory allowed the Dodgers to move within 41/2games of first-place Arizona in the National League West and remain 31/2 games behind second-place San Diego, which leads the NL wild-card race.

"When you win one-run games, you're playing good baseball," said Mark Sweeney, who had a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning and scored the winning run on Andre Ethier's sacrifice fly. "We won a one-run game (Monday) and came back and did it again. That's what you have to do in a playoff race."

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley, who nearly imploded in the first inning and required a early mound visit from Little, battled through seven innings and allowed three runs on eight hits.

Billingsley (9-4) gave up a home run to pinch-hitter Tony Batista in the seventh, which tied the score 3-3, but the Dodgers took advantage of a defensive gaffe and reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh.

With one out, Sweeney doubled and Rafael Furcal walked. Juan Pierre then hit a sharp grounder, which Felipe Lopez bobbled to load the bases for the Dodgers.

Ethier then hit the sacrifice fly to center field. Nationals reliever Chris Schroder (1-1) was charged with the unearned run and the loss. Takashi Saito pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 36th save.

"It's a combined effort," Little said. "When you win ballgames, it's a combined effort from everyone on the field. We just have to keep it going."

The Dodgers held onto the lead, something they failed to do earlier. Washington tied the score with Brian Schneider's sacrifice fly in the fourth and Batista's home run. Before that, Shea Hillenbrand had given the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with a two-run single in the second and Jeff Kent hit a solo home run in the third.

Kent also started three double plays, including a particularly slick turn with shortstop Rafael Furcal in the third inning, when the Nationals, trailing 2-1, had runners on first and second and oneout.

The Nationals, who have the least productive offense in the National League, didn't need to do much in the first inning in order to threaten. They just waited for Billingsley to implode, which he nearly did.

With one out and a runner on first, Dmitri Young (Rio Mesa of Oxnard) blasted a double to center field and Lopez scored easily. Billingsley then hit both Kearns and Ryan Church with pitches in consecutive at-bats.

That prompted Little's mound visit, after just 23 pitches and 12minutes of action. Billingsley responded with three fastballs, two for strikes and a third that Ronnie Belliard popped up to end the inning.

"He pretty much just told me to slow down," Billingsley said. "I tend to get rattled out there and he said, 'Just go after this guy."'

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Dodgers

TODAY

Dodgers (Penny 14-4) vs. Washington (Hill 3-3), 12:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium.

TV: Prime Ticket.

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Photo:

Chad Billingsley struggled early, then settled down -- allowing three runs and eight hits over seven innings -- to pick up the victory for the Dodgers against Washington on Tuesday.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer