As Hollywood endings go, this one ranked up there with the final scene of The Sopranos for the Mets.

Some early excitement, intrigue and then…nothing.

James Loney’s RBI double in the sixth broke a 3-3 tie as New York squandered a 3-0 lead for the second straight game, eventually succumbing to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3 in front of the beautiful backdrop also known as Dodger Stadium.

Shawn Green returned to the lineup and contributed two hits and an RBI, but an offense that produced three runs and six hits over the first four innings was completely shutdown thereafter, pushing the team to its eighth loss in 10 games and third straight overall.

Luis Gonzalez doubled twice and drove in a run for the Dodgers, who came in losers in five of their last six games.

After falling behind 3-0 after four innings, Los Angeles rallied to tie the game with three runs in their half of the fourth before moving ahead in the sixth.

Gonzalez (2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) opened the inning with a two-bagger into the gap in right-center. After Andre Ethier flied out to Carlos Beltran, Loney smacked a drive to left-center that one-hopped the fence which scored Gonzalez for a 4-3 lead.

Carlos Beltran was charged with his first error in 145 games on the play, dropping the ball as he attempted to pick it up, which allowed Loney to reach third.

It appeared New York would escape further trouble when they guessed right on a suicide squeeze attempt, though Tony Abreu managed to get the bunt down. However, after tagging out Loney near home, Paul Lo Duca’s ill-advised throw sailed towards the stands in right, allowing Abreu to reach third.

Pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit would make the Mets pay, delivering a bloop single into center for a 5-3 advantage, which also put an end to ‘El Duque’s’ evening.

It was only the second time in 10 starts that Hernandez (3-2) had allowed more than three runs. The right-hander held Los Angeles hitless through the first three innings but allowed five runs – four earned – on seven hits and two walks over his final 2 2/3 frames.

‘El Duque’ entered the contest having surrendered just two runs in 19 innings (0.95 ERA) since his return from the disabled list four starts ago.

The Dodger bullpen did the rest, hurling three perfect innings to thwart any potential comeback attempt.

The rally in the sixth made a winner of Randy Wolf, who ended his evening with six solid innings after struggling in the early going.

The former Phillie allowed two runs in the first and one in the fourth, but minimized the damage despite scattering nine hits. Wolf (8-4) snapped a two-start winless streak, surrendering three runs – one over his final five frames – with no walks and three strikeouts.

After seeing their offense come to life with 14 runs in losses on Saturday and Sunday, New York kept the good times going with a two-run first.

Jose Reyes singled to start the game, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Green (2-for-4, RBI). Showing the broken bone in his foot is not hindering him; the slow-footed right-fielder stole second and moved to third on catcher Russell Martin’s errant throw.

Following a hard lineout to third by Beltran, David Wright extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single up the middle for a 2-0 lead.

The Mets stretched their lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Carlos Gomez’s RBI single scored Carlos Delgado, who had doubled to start the inning.

Los Angeles would answer right back in the bottom half with their first hits and runs off Hernandez.

Juan Pierre started the inning with a rare walk and stole his 20th base of the season to move into scoring position. Martin followed with a hard single just past a diving Wright at third to get the Dodgers on the board. The emerging catcher followed Pierre’s lead and stole second and came home to score two batters later on Gonzalez’s double to right.

Ethier followed with a soft single to left, tying the game at three.

New York had a fine scoring opportunity in the fifth, but their inability to hit with runners in scoring position reared its ugly head yet again.

Consecutive singles by Green and Beltran put two runners on with only one out, but Wright lined out sharply to Gonzalez in left before Delgado – who entered the game with just five hits in his last 45 at-bats with runners in scoring position and none in his last 16 – waved weakly at a two-strike curveball to end the inning.

The Mets finished the evening 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, but just 1-for-7 after the first inning.

With their division lead down to two games over the second-place Braves, the Mets (36-26) will look to rebound in the second of three on Tuesday night at Chavez Ravine. John Maine (6-3, 2.78) will try and stop his club’s second three-game losing streak in less than a week as he takes the hill for the 13th time. The right-hander suffered through a rough patch in mid-May but has rebounded in his last three starts, posting a 2.84 ERA, though he has only one win to show for it (1-1). Maine is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in one regular-season start against Los Angeles, though he limited them to two runs in 4 2/3 innings in Game 1 of last season’s NLDS.

Losers in five-of-six coming in, the Dodgers (36-28) will look to keep things tight atop the National League West. Manager Grady Little will turn to youngster Hong-Chih Kuo (0-1, 4.85), who has shuttled between the bullpen, minors and disabled list this season. The 25-year-old has pitched well since rejoining the rotation on June 2, allowing just three runs and eight hits with 11 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings (2.53 ERA). Kuo completely shut down New York with six shutout innings last September at Shea, and in three career appearances against them (one start), has yet to allow a run. The left-hander was the losing pitcher, however, in Game 2 of last year’s division series when he allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings.

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