Phils get to Wilson in ninth inning

Dodger reliever Brian Wilson is a sight to behold.

His hair is cut into a razor cut with a ponytail and his long beard travels to mid-chest. His heavily tattooed arms are displayed with tight-cut sleeves and an open jersey.

He makes you take a second look.

But since joining the Dodgers last season the former Giants reliever has been lights out coming out of the pen. Wilson allowed only one run in 18 appearances last season for the Dodgers so when he got touched for four runs in the ninth inning last night in a 7-3 loss to Philadelphia, Dodger manager Don Mattingly was peppered with questions about his pitcher.

Wilson went to the DL earlier this season with an irritated ulnar nerve.

"We feel like he's healthy," said Mattingly. "Obviously, his location is not where he wants it. This guy barely misses his spots at all." 

Tapped to pitch the ninth inning in a 3-3 tie, Wilson allowed a leadoff single to Cody Asche, a one-out single to Ben Revere, a two-run double to Carlos Ruiz, an intentional walk to Chase Utley and then hit slumping Ryan Howard with a pitch before he was removed. 

"The only thing we can do is ask," Mattingly said of Wilson, who conceded a month ago that he tried to compensate for lack of arm strength after a compressed Spring Training by muscling up with his pitches, only to irritate his twice-repaired elbow.

"We think it's a matter of not executing. That's where we start if nothing is wrong physically. We have to make sure he's being honest and he feels good. We know if Brian is throwing the way he's capable of, it makes us pretty strong." 

Offensively, the Dodgers got three hits each -- including home runs -- from Juan Uribe and Adrian Gonzalez in the loss.

The Dodgers welcome Colorado to Chavez Ravine tonight. The Rockies are a game behind the Dodgers and a half-game behind the Giants in the NL West.