Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Chad Billingsley tossed eight strong innings, and James Loney went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored as the Los Angeles Dodgers topped the Houston Astros, 5-2, in the finale of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Billingsley (8-7) allowed a pair of unearned runs on six hits -- striking out five and walking one -- as he won his fourth straight start. The 23-year-old right-hander held the opposition without an earned run for his second straight outing, as he beat the Angels on Saturday, 1-0, despite the Dodgers not getting a hit behind him.

Blake DeWitt knocked in a pair of runs for the Dodgers, who won the final three of this set and have taken five of their last seven overall. Andre Ethier added a solo homer.

J.R. Towles had a two-run double for the Astros, losers of three straight after a three-game win streak. Mark Loretta and Carlos Lee each went 2-for-4, while Brandon Backe (5-9) allowed all five runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 frames to take the loss.

The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead, picking up three runs in the top of the first. After Backe retired the first two batters, Russell Martin started the threat with a single to right. Jeff Kent worked a walk, then Loney hit a looping fly ball to shallow left that just stayed fair before hopping into the stands for an RBI ground-rule double. DeWitt then laced a single to right- center, allowing both Kent and Loney to cross the plate.

Ethier tacked on to the lead in the top of the third, launching the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left.

Billingsley cruised through the first four innings until running into trouble with two outs in the fifth. Geoff Blum hit a grounder to second that was misplayed by Luis Maza, and Hunter Pence followed with a single. Towles then golfed a long fly ball to left that bounced off the wall for a two-run double that cut the Dodgers' lead in half.

Loney immediately pushed the lead back to three, leading off the sixth by lining a 3-1 fastball into the left-field seats.

After Billingsley controlled the Astros through the eighth, Saito came on for the ninth. Singles from Miguel Tejada and Blum put runners at the corners with one out, but Saito recovered to get the final two outs and lock up his 14th save.