MLB: LA Dodgers 4, Washington 3

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney doubled then scored the winning run on Andre Ethier's seventh-inning sacrifice fly Tuesday, as the LA Dodgers nipped Washington 4-3.

Jeff Kent homered and Shea Hillenbrand drove in a pair of runs for Los Angeles, which has won three straight and nine of its last 13 games to move within 4 1/2 games of Arizona in the NL West.

Chad Billingsley (9-4) allowed three runs on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts over seven innings for LA. Takashi Saito picked up his 36th save.

Tony Batista homered for Washington, which has lost five in a row and six of seven. Felipe Lopez and Dmitri Young both had a pair of hits in the loss.

Jason Bergmann, activated off the disabled list over the weekend, gave up three runs on six hits with a walk and strikeout over six frames.