Dodgers go flat in loss to Diamondbacks

The best way I can describe the Dodgers' offense Wednesday night - not happening.

Seven hits, only one extra base hit, and six left on meant a tough night at the plate, as the Diamondbacks used a four-run fifth to get the win, 4-1. The Rockies and Giants both won, so the lead in the NL West is 4 and 1/2 and 5 and 1/2, respectively.

Both Chad Billingsley and Max Scherzer were dealing for the first part of the game. In fact, Andre Ethier's double and single were the only hits for either team through the first four innings.

Billingsley looked especially sharp, as he had a perfect game through the first 4 and 1/3 inning. Then, as has been the case many times this year, Bills fell apart in the middle innings.

Miguel Montero started it by doubling to left. The next batter was Brandon Allen, and he absolutely unloaded on a long two-run shot to right, and before you could blink, it was 2-0. Two infield singled lead to RBIs by Stephen Drew and Gerardo Parra to make it 4-0.

The only time the Dodgers awoke their fans with their bats was in the eighth. Juan Pierre pinch-hit for James McDonald with one out and drew a walk. Rafael Furcal had a great bunt for a base hit. After Ethier lined out to first, Manny Ramirez had another chance for an RBI after failing his first three times. He took some advice from new teammate Jim Thome and hit an RBI single.

Matt Kemp also had a tough night after being so red hot lately, as he lined out to right to end the threat, part of his 0-for-4 night. Juan Gutierrez got the Dodgers in order to put end to this clunker.

With all the talk of the Dodgers getting Thome to improve their offense, their regular guys pretty much stunk up the joint. Ethier got three hits, but got no help. Casey Blake got the night off, so maybe hit bat could have been a difference. Who knows.

Two guys who are painful to watch at the plate these days are James Loney and Russell Martin. In August, Loney hit .222 and Martin hit .239. Both only had six extra-base hits. Basically it seems that Loney grounds to second and Martin pops up each time they're up. I hope they can turn it around because the bottom of the order is really suffering with those numbers.

Billingsley ended up going six innings for six hits, four runs (three earned), one walk, and five strikeouts. To be fair, in his four-run fifth, he only gave up a couple of hard hits. The rest were little dribblers that found the perfect spot. It was still concerning that he again seemed to hit a wall in the middle innings, but at least he wasn't pounded.

The final game is tonight, as Jon Garland goes against his old team, as opposed to the other way around, which was the original plan. I guess the offense is due for a good night, as they seem to do good one night, then zip the next.