LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers usually come out on the short end in games decided by two runs or less. Not this time.

Antonio Perez drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded grounder in the sixth inning and the Dodgers rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 Friday night, snapping their six-game losing streak.

Nine of the Dodgers' previous 11 defeats had been decided by two runs or less, and have helped stifle their bid for a playoff berth with nine games remaining.

"There's still some stuff to play for, you know, pride and everything," winning rookie pitcher D.J. Houlton said. "I've never been in a situation like this before. It's tough."

The Pirates lost their fourth in a row and are an NL Central-worst 62-92.

Houlton (6-9) earned the victory, giving up two runs and four hits, striking out five and walking none in six innings.

Rookie Paul Maholm (2-1) took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits, striking out three and walking four in 5

innings.

The Dodgers batted around in the sixth, when they scored three runs to take the lead.

Dioner Navarro doubled, Mike Edwards walked and then Jayson Werth tied the game 2-2 with a run-scoring single.

Maholm hit Willy Aybar to load the bases with two outs. Perez grounded to third baseman Rob Mackowiak, who dived for the ball and it hit off his glove, rolling into foul territory. Edwards scored for a 3-2 lead.

Jose Mesa replaced Maholm and gave up a bases-loaded walk to Jeff Kent without throwing a strike, extending the Dodgers' lead to 4-2.