Matt Kemp got a hit

And the rest of the team didn't.

I'll bet you'll never guess just how (un)successful the Dodgers were on Wednesday night!

Facing another game where if they win, they take the NL West, the Dodgers again regressed. This time they were actually one-hit by three guys named Clayton Richard, Mike Adams, and Luke Gregerson en route to losing to the Padres, 5-0.

The Rockies won... again. They beat the Brewers, 10-6. That means the West lead for the Dodgers is down to a paltry 2 and 1/2 games.

You know what? I'm glad the Rockies keep winning. I don't think the Dodgers should be handed anything. They need to get a damn win. And it's obviously just not happening.

The Padres struck in the first when Chase Headley hit an RBI single to go up 1-0. Jon Garland got the next two guys out, so it wasn't looking bad yet.

That changed in the third. David Eckstein singled to lead off, and Headley singled an out later. Now with two outs, Kevin Kouzmanoff rocketed a three-run shot to left, putting the game away at 4-0. Well, the game already was put away at 1-0, but this homer sealed the deal for good.

The last run came on an error by Mark Loretta at third. Like I've said before, the Dodgers really miss Casey Blake. These last few games show just how underrated he is, and how good of a threat he is on both sides of the diamond.

Garland, like the other pitchers before him, had a chance to throw a great game and get this thing over with, but that didn't happen. He lasted a mere 3 and 1/3 innings for seven hits, five runs (four earned), one walk, and four strikeouts. To be fair to him, that was his first really bad start in six as a Dodger, so he gets a pass.

As for the offense... wow. That's really all there needs to be said. They're pressing now more than ever, and look lifeless in the process. This is a time when they need their stars to take over, and they all looked lost. To get only one hit and ground into two double plays just shows how much things have tanked recently.

If there's a positive way to spin all of this, it's that the Dodgers aren't alone in their struggles. The Red Sox have lost six straight, including a 12-0 shellacking to the Blue Jays last night. The Cardinals have lost five of their last seven, though they did crush the Reds today.

While that doesn't at all excuse the Dodgers' poor recent play, it at least shows that good teams go through this. The Dodgers will still make the playoffs, but if they fail to clinch the West, that would cast a huge dark cloud over them. And rightfully so.

Thursday is an off day, which is something they haven't had in over a week. Maybe getting a day off, relaxing, and coming back home will do the trick. They only need one more win, which all come against the Rockies. So basically, if they want the division, they have to earn it against the team that's chasing them.

That's the way it should be.

Randy Wolf will get the ball on Friday night, and he's exactly who the Dodgers want in this situation. Ubaldo Jimenez goes for the Rockies. He's also had a great year, though September has been tougher on him.