SAN DIEGO(AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers need another win or a
Colorado Rockies loss to clinch the NL West title. That final
step is proving to be a tricky one.

Los Angeles matched its season high with its fourth consecutive
loss Wednesday night, managing just one hit in a 5-0 loss to
Clayton Richard and the San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers failed once again to secure its second consecutive
division title for the first time since 1977-78. They beat
Pittsburgh 8-4 on Saturday night to wrap up a playoff berth.

"There's really not a lot to be said," Los Angeles manager Joe
Torre said. "It's an interesting situation because we haven't
clinched the division but we're still going to the playoffs. We
certainly don't want to finish the season on a bum note because
momentum-wise it doesn't help you in the postseason."

The Dodgers' lead was trimmed to 2 1/2 games by Colorado, which
beat Milwaukee 10-6 and now controls its destiny. The Rockies
host the Brewers on Thursday before finishing the season with
three games against the Dodgers in Southern California.

Los Angeles' lead for the home-field advantage throughout the NL
playoffs was cut to a half-game over Philadelphia, which beat
Houston 10-3 to clinch the East title.

"You want to win the division, absolutely," pitcher Jon Garland
said. "It means a lot to everyone on the team, the organization,
fans. But it doesn't matter if we have home field or not because
you have to win on the road. If you can't win on the road,
you're not going to be successful."

The Dodgers had a six-game lead with seven games remaining after
Saturday's win. Los Angeles has dropped six of eight overall,
all on the road to sub-.500 teams.

"We'll be OK," Matt Kemp said. "As soon as we win a game, all
the talk will be over and we can get ready for the playoffs. We
control what happens to us."

Kemp's first-inning single was the only hit against the trio of
Richard (5-2), Mike Adams and rookie Luke Gregerson. Five of San
Diego's eight shutouts have come in September.

Richard, a rookie left-hander acquired from the Chicago White
Sox in the Jake Peavy trade, walked three, struck out two and
allowed just one runner to reach second.

"You never want anyone celebrating on your home field," Richard
said. "I know we're not in position to celebrate, but we wanted
to postpone their party."

Los Angeles has had champagne on ice since Saturday night in
Pittsburgh. Unable to wrap up the division to this point, the
Dodgers could clinch on their day off if the Rockies lose to the
Brewers.

"We'll take a day off, which we need, get home and loosen up a
little bit," Garland said. "We'll be fine."

Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a three-run homer for San Diego, which has
gone 10-4 in September against NL West playoff contenders Los
Angeles, Colorado and San Francisco.

"We talked about playing contending teams tough," Padres manager
Bud Black said. "It's a measuring stick."

The Dodgers (93-66), who are in the playoffs for the third time
in four seasons, have scored one run or less four times in their
last six games.

Kouzmanoff hit his 18th homer off Garland (11-13) in the third
inning to put the Padres ahead 4-0.

Rookie Everth Cabrera scored a run on a bizarre play in the
fourth. Third baseman Mark Loretta collided with Cabrera in a
rundown. As Loretta fell to the turf, he grabbed Cabrera's leg
while the rookie was attempting to get back to third. Loretta
was charged with an error and Cabrera was awarded home on the
obstruction call.

Garland allowed five runs, four earned, and seven hits in 3 1-3
innings.

NOTES: When asked if the club will celebrate Friday if the
Rockies lose Thursday, Torre said: "Yeah, I'm not going to
invite everybody over to my house." ... San Diego has thrown
three combined one-hitters this season and has 23 one-hitters in
its history. The Padres are one of four clubs who have never had
a pitcher throw a no-hitter. ... Torre said LHP Clayton Kershaw
will start Saturday against Colorado. ... Dodgers RHP Hiroki
Kuroda reported a stiff neck after running on Tuesday. ... Los
Angeles 3B Casey Blake (strained left hamstring) missed his
eighth straight game and Ronnie Belliard (groin) sat out his
second consecutive game.