Dodgers place Chad Billingsley on disabled list

Chad Billingsley was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with what the Dodgers described as “right elbow pain.”

In terms of buzz, the development was of secondary importance, as it came on the day the Dodgers completed their nine-player trade with the Boston Red Sox to acquire Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto.

But in terms of what it meant to the Dodgers’ postseason ambitions, it was potentially devastating.

Billingsley was injured in the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ win over the Marlins on Friday. Leading up to that start, Billingsley was arguably the Dodgers’ best pitcher over the last month. In his previous six starts, he was 6-0 with a 1.30 earned-run average.

Manager Don Mattingly said he had no doubt the Dodgers could overcome the loss of Billingsley.

He pointed to Beckett and Joe Blanton, who was recently acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I’m confident in Josh,” Mattingly said. “I’m confident in Joe.”

Beckett was 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA with the Red Sox. Blanton is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in his four starts with the Dodgers.

Beckett is scheduled to make his first start for the Dodgers on Monday in Colorado.

Mattingly is convinced Beckett can still be successful despite his declining fastball velocity.

“He can locate,” Mattingly said. “He throws the ball where he wants.”

Mattingly also pointed to Beckett’s big-game experience. Beckett won a World Series with the then-Florida Marlins in 2003 and the Red Sox in 2007.

Ethier sets mark in Dodgers’ win

The Dodgers moved to within two games of the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West by defeating the Miami Marlins, 8-2.

With Gonzalez in the lineup, the Dodgers collected a season-high 16 hits. Gonzalez hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat with the Dodgers, in the first inning. Mark Ellis and Andre Ethier also hit home runs, both in the fifth inning.

Ethier went four for four and set an L.A. Dodgers record by collecting hits in 10 consecutive at-bats, breaking Ron Cey’s mark. . Ed Konetchy had 10 hits in a row in 1919 for Brooklyn.

Luis Cruz drove in two runs.

Clayton Kershaw held the Marlins to two runs and three hits over eight innings.

Trade complete

The Dodgers received $11.7 million as part of their nine-player trade with the Red Sox. The Dodgers will be taking on $260 million in salary commitments.

They received Gonzalez, Beckett, Crawford and Nick Punto. Officially, they sent back James Loney, Allen Webster, Ivan De Jesus Jr. and two players to be named, who will be Rubby De La Rosa and Jerry Sands. They couldn’t be traded because they didn’t clear waivers.