ONE MISTAKE DOES DAMAGE FOR BILLINGSLEY SOLO HOMER STANDS UP FOR ARIZONA ARIZONA 1, DODGERS 0.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND 

Staff Writer

Based on trends, if nothing else, Chad Billingsley figured to be headed for great success Friday night.

Since he joined the Dodgers' rotation near the end of June, Billingsley's starts have been simple to track. It's been a clunker, followed by brilliance, followed by more struggles.

Maybe he needs eight days' rest.

In any case, Billingsley seemed well positioned after his 4 1/3-inning disaster in Colorado five days earlier, and once again he followed form.

Then again, so did the Dodgers' offense.

In 7 2/3 innings, Billingsley allowed only a solo home run to Arizona's Chris Snyder, but the Dodgers, minus three regulars, slumbered at the plate again and trailed 1-0 in the ninth inning in front of 51,582 at Dodger Stadium in a crisp two hours and 32 mintues.

Snyder broke a scoreless tie when he led off the seventh inning and crushed a fastball over the short fence in left field.

Billingsley left three batters later. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out eight.

The Dodgers, without regulars Luis Gonzalez and James Loney (rest) and Jeff Kent (sore hamstring) managed only three hits through eight innings against Arizona starting pitcher Doug Davis. Closer Jose Valverde had an easy ninth to save it.

Two starts removed from his first career complete game, Billingsley sought to recapture that form and earn some revenge against the Diamondbacks, who roughed him up in a four-inning loss on June 26.

Billingsley, left out of the Dodgers' rotation at the start of the season, suddenly has turned into one of its most crucial members.

With Jason Schmidt lost for the season and Randy Wolf's status for the final two months in doubt, the Dodgers will need Billingsley to be more than just an innings eater.

There have been flashes of brilliance, enough to suggest that Billingsley should be a reliable starter down the stretch, but even in good times Billingsley has struggled with high pitch counts.

The problems reached an apex Sunday in Colorado, when Billingsley not only allowed four runs (including two home runs) but lasted just 4 1/3 innings because he threw a season-high 114 pitches.

Billingsley seemed headed for big numbers again Friday night, as he faced four batters in the first inning and threw 21 pitches, but soon after, Billingsley became both efficient and effective against Arizona.

After Orlando Hudson's one-out single in the first, Billingsley retired 10 consecutive batters and didn't allow another baserunner until Chad Tracy hit a harmless two-out single in the fourth inning.

Billingsley pitched into the eighth inning for the second time this season and threw 108 pitches.

Meanwhile, Davis, who has been consistently average of late, thrived again against the Dodgers. On May 2 in Arizona, Davis allowed the Dodgers one (unearned) run in seven innings but lost 2-1. Davis also recorded his third career shutout last September against the Dodgers.

Davis hasn't had any of Billingsley's recent ups and downs. Davis had a 2-1 record in five July starts, all of which were quality starts but none of which were particularly special. He had a 3.58 ERA in July.

The Dodgers had a good scoring chance early, thanks to some shaky Arizona defense.

With one out in the first inning, Juan Pierre reached first on a sharp infield single to shortstop. Davis then had Pierre picked off, but the throw to second from Conor Jackson went slightly wide of second base.

Pierre moved to third when another pickoff attempt from Davis went into center field, but the threat ended when Russell Martin tapped back to the mound and Olmedo Saenz flied out to right field.

After that, Davis didn't overpower the Dodgers but breezed through the middle innings. Rafael Furcal hit a two-out single in the third and Martin hit a leadoff single in the fourth, but neither runner advanced.

Billingsley matched Davis out for out, and through seven innings each pitcher allowed three hits.

The Dodgers got a scare in the sixth inning when Martin hobbled away from first base after a fielder's choice groundout. Martin hit the bag awkwardly with his right foot but stayed in the game.

Delwyn Young, a product of Lancaster High, made his first major-league start for the Dodgers. Young played left field and batted seventh.

Young grounded out to first base in the first inning.

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Dodgers (Lowe 8-9) vs. Arizona (Hernandez 6-7), 7:10 p.m., Dodgers Stadium. TV: FSN Prime Ticket.

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Photo:

Chad Billingsley frowns after allowing a home run to Arizona's Chris Snyder in the eighth inning Friday.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer