5 whole runs!

But the Padres got 10.

The Dodgers slugged 14 hits, found many ways to leave them on base, and dropped one to the Padres, 10-5. The Padres have an nine game lead over them in the NL West.

Andre Ethier was back in the lineup, and Joe Torre once again tinkered with the order. Scott Podsednik and Rafael Furcal were at the top, and Ryan Theriot went to the eighth spot. Matt Kemp and James Loney hit 3-4, and Ethier was down to the sixth spot, probably in an effort to take some pressure off of him.

If you were to be told that the Dodgers had seven hits through three innings, you probably think that they got on the scoreboard.

Well... they didn't.

With two outs in the first, Kemp and Loney both singled. Casey Blake hit a soft single to center, which should have easily scored Kemp. But, Loney was gunned out trying to stretch to third.

Regardless of that, one would have to assume that Kemp scored the run anyway. But one would assume wrong. Kemp pulled up into a slow trot before scoring, thinking it was a foregone conclusion. Loney was tagged out just before Kemp crossed home.

One inning later, Ethier and Russell Martin singled to start. Theriot grounded out, but both runners advanced to scoring position. Sure enough, Hiroki Kuroda struck out and Podsednik flied out.

Then in the third, Kemp doubled to center and Loney legged out an infield singled. In continuing with the theme of the night (or of the last few weeks for that matter), the guys behind them couldn't get the big hit, as Blake struck out and Ethier flied to center.

The Padres blew the game open in the fourth against Kuroda, who just hit a wall out of nowhere. It started with a couple of men on base and one out. The Dodgers would have flopped in that spot, but not the Padres, who got a three-run homer from Will Venable. The inning was continued on a throwing error by Martin, and Miguel Tejada cracked a two-run single, making it 5-0.

At least the Dodgers finally got something going in the bottom of the frame. Martin and Theriot both walked to lead off. Ronnie Belliard pinch-hit and delivered an RBI single. With two outs, Kemp added an RBI single, and it was 5-2.

In the fifth, the Padres got those two runs right back off of Jeff Weaver, who's been awful lately. Yorvit Torrealba hit his second infield single of the day, this time for an RBI. Yes, that would be the catcher hitting two infield singles. Sad. Venable chipped in a sac-fly RBI for the 7-2 lead.

The lead for the Padres got up to 10-2 before the Dodgers got back a few, not that it mattered at that point. Furcal had an RBI single, and Kemp added an RBI single and solo homer. Some guy named Ernesto Frieri struck out the side to end the game.

The bottom line is that the Dodgers had plenty of opportunities to put the pressure on early, but time and time again could not come through. As a result, they just dug themselves way too big a hole to get out of once the Padres' bats got hot. That's why the Padres are in first place and the Dodgers are not.

The starting pitching has been so good lately, it was surprising to see Kuroda struggle. He lasted only four innings for seven hits, five runs (four earned), one walk, and one strikeout. He didn't get any run support when he was in there, not that that's a surprise.

Weaver again got pounded for five runs in two innings. He suddenly looks really old really fast. He was awesome in June with a 1.30 ERA, but July was a 6.94. Obviously August didn't get off to a great start. I think it's time he becomes the guy that only pitches in blowouts, not in close games like last night. He just doesn't have good stuff right now.

As for the offense, the bright spot was Kemp's 5-for-5 day with a double, homer, and three RBIs. But when you factor in his awful baserunning early in the game, it almost flushes those numbers right down the toilet. It's not a surprise, though. He simply has no idea what it takes to focus for a whole game and produce like he's capable of.

The team as a whole left 12 men on base and hit into two double plays. Granted, those double plays were on lineouts, which pretty much was like putting salt in the wound. When things are going well, those are balls that land. That's the way it's been.

At nine games back, the Dodgers might have to just look at the Wild Card standings from here on out. They're seven games in back of that, so it's not much better. Plus when you factor in teams like the Phillies and Cardinals are also chasing the Giants for the top spot, it's going to be a tough climb.

But like the cliche says, the Dodgers need to take it one game at a time. New Dodger Ted Lilly will go tonight, and he'll be up against Mat Latos.