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Oh, the pain: Chad Billingsley gives up only one hit in eight innings and Dodgers still lose, 1-0

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That was some game Chad Billingsley pitched Saturday. That was some incredible loss he suffered.

Billingsley threw eight impressive innings against the Diamondbacks, holding them to a lone hit.

Alas, the batter who collected the hit -- Stephen Drew doubled in the second -- ended up scoring after Billingsley threw a pick-off throw to second, minus anyone covering second.

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Drew took third on the error, scored on a sacrifice fly by Melvin Mora, the Diamondbacks had the game’s only run, and the Dodgers lost when they couldn’t scratch together anything against a rookie right-hander making his first career start.

To recap: Billingsley gave up one hit in eight innings and lost.

That’s really hard to do, but these are the offensively challenged Dodgers, who ranked 13th in the National League in runs. It is the fourth time this season they have been shut out.

It was the first time the Dodgers gave up only one hit and lost since July 17, 1914, when the Brooklyn Robins lost to the Chicago Cubs, 3-2.

Really, really hard to do.

The 6-foot-2 Josh Collmenter began the season as a starter at triple-A Reno, making one start before he was called up to the Diamondbacks. He had appeared in seven games as a reliever (1-0, 1.29 earned-run average) with Arizona before getting the start Saturday.

And he went through the Dodgers as if they were nothing. Collmenter, 25, was in complete command, pitching like a seasoned veteran. He went six easy innings, holding the Dodgers scoreless on two hits. He did not walk a batter.

A rookie making his first start, and he made the Dodgers’ offense look feeble.

All while Billingsley, second inning aside, was completely dealing. Billingsley (2-3) retired the Diamondbacks in order in six innings. He retired 21 of his last 22 batters.

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And lost.

The Dodgers’ best chance to score came against reliever David Hernandez in the eighth when James Loney led off with his first extra-base hit since April 6. Loney doubled off the right-field foul pole.

Rod Barajas’ bunt sacrificed Loney to third, but the Dodgers’ bench could not come through. Pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro struck out and pinch-hitter Jay Gibbons flied out to left.

They tried one more time in the ninth against Arizona closer J.J. Putz when Jamey Carroll led off with a single, and after Aaron Miles failed to get down a sacrifice bunt and struck out, Andre Ethier walked.

But Matt Kemp hit Putz’s first pitch and grounded into a game-ending double play.

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Jerry Sands goes from farm country, to farm system to the big leagues

-- Steve Dilbeck

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