SAN DIEGO — Joe Torre tried to be philosophical after the Los Angeles Dodgers failed for the third consecutive game to clinch their second straight NL West title.

"What's worthwhile is worth the wait," the manager said after his Dodgers lost 3-1 to San Diego last night. Tony Gwynn Jr. homered and Kevin Kouzmanoff singled in the go-ahead run for the Padres.

The Dodgers have lost three straight since securing a playoff spot on Saturday night. Colorado didn't do the Dodgers any favors, beating Milwaukee, 7-5, in 11 innings.

Yesterday's results forced the Dodgers to keep on ice the champagne they'd lugged with them from Pittsburgh, where they lost three of four to the Pirates, the NL's second-worst team. The Dodgers' magic number to clinch the NL West remained at one.

Heath Bell pitched a perfect ninth for his 41st save, striking out Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and James Loney.

"We had a couple of opportunities with a couple of men on base and came up short," Torre said. "The pitching was good. We didn't do anything offensively."

The last thing the Padres want is to see the Dodgers celebrate on their field.

"It means a lot because we are not in the hunt, we're not in the playoffs," Kouzmanoff said.