This one ended on Brian Wilson's bases-loaded walk to James Loney in the ninth inning, extending the Giants' slide to five games, all in Southern California. The final game of the trip is Thursday, and Barry Zito is on the mound.

Wednesday's ugly ending negated a three-run homer by Aaron Rowand that provided a 4-2 lead and another promising start from Matt Cain, who gave up two runs in six innings.

Three of the four free agents the Giants acquired over the winter -- shortstop Edgar Renteria, left-hander Jeremy Affeldt and right-hander Bobby Howry -- were of no help in this one.

Renteria was 0-for-4, his average slipping to .138, and played sloppy defense. Affeldt and Howry, the new setup men, combined to give up two runs in the eighth inning -- it started when Andre Ethier singled off Affeldt -- and Howry remained in the game in the ninth.

The winning rally opened with singles by Orlando Hudson and Manny Ramirez and ended on the bases-loaded walk.

The Dodgers' scoring ended the same way it began. Their first run came when Cain issued a bases-loaded walk in the first inning.

DODGERS 5, GIANTS 4: After Aaron Rowand's three-run homer in the top of the eighth, which put the Giants ahead 4-2, the Dodgers rebounded with two in the eighth (off new setup men Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry) and one in the ninth. The game ended on Brian Wilson's bases-loaded walk to James Loney. Bengie Molina homered in the second inning for the Giants' only hit in seven innings against Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw.