Whatever ills the Padres may have these days, their cure is simple: play the Dodgers, and get well again.
For the fifth straight time, the Padres beat the Dodgers, this time by a score of 6-0. As if I really need to say this, but the Dodgers are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
In other words, the loss made official something we've all known for awhile, and that's the Dodgers have taken a huge step backwards this season. Tuesday night's loss was the icing on the cake.
The game started off typically, as the Dodgers had their first two men reach on a single by Rafael Furcal and a walk to Jamey Carroll. Andre Ethier was so excited that he grounded into a double play. Matt Kemp ripped one back to... the pitcher for the final out.
In the third, the Padres got their scoring started. With one out, David Eckstein walked and was forced at second on Miguel Tejada's grounder. Adrian Gonzalez doubled to put runners on the corners. Ryan Ludwick was brought in at the trade deadline to drive in runs, and that's what happened with a two-run double.
The Dodgers again put two runners on in the third. This time Raffy walked and Carroll singled. With one out, Ethier struck out and Kemp grounded into a fielder's choice. So much for the "big RBI guys" getting the job done for L.A.
The fifth is when the Padres put the game away for good against Chad Billingsley. The bases got loaded on Will Venable's single, David Eckstein's hit-by-pitch, and Gonzalez's intentional walk with an out. Ludwick was also beaned to force in a run, making it 3-0. Yorvit Torrealba's sac-fly RBI and Chase Headley's single made it 5-0.
The rest of the game meant more of the same for the Dodgers. Some men would get on, but they'd be stranded. A.J. Ellis singled to start the fifth, but was erased on Josh Lindsey's double play. Carroll made it no further than first after his single to open the sixth.
Then there's the ninth, which featured a completely typical end to any chances the Dodgers had in making the playoffs this year. Kemp struck out for one down, which should be to the surprise of absolutely nobody. Casey Blake and James Loney then hit singles.
How would the Dodgers officially end their postseason shot? Reed Johnson grounded into a game ending double play. There was never a more appropriate way for this game to end.
Billingsley was alright through four innings, but the fifth killed him. He ended with five innings pitched, six hits, five runs, three walks, and six strikeouts. He evened his record at 11-11.
Carlos Monasterios did a good job in pitching two scoreless innings, giving up only one hit. Ramon Troncoso didn't give up a hit in two innings, but gave up a run in the ninth thanks to two wild pitches.
In looking at the hit column, the Dodgers won with an 8-7 edge. The difference, for the umpteenth time this season, was when those hits came. The Dodgers stranded five in scoring position, and the Padres got four RBIs with two outs. It's happened over and over this season.
That's why the Dodgers need to do what it takes to get some sort of slugger in the heart of the order. They thought Ethier and Kemp would be the guys, but they don't look close to handling that roll. The Padres have Gonzalez, whom they can build around.
Imagine if the Dodgers had someone like Adam Dunn hitting cleanup. Automatically, Ethier and Kemp would have less pressure on them. Dunn strikes out a lot, but he also hits for plenty of power and takes lots of walks. Instead of scratching and clawing for every run, the offense can have someone who can win a game with one swing.
Dunn is just an example, as there are obviously more guys to take a hard look at in the offseason. But the point remains the same - the Dodgers need someone with thump in the order. They can't continue to let their offense drag down good starting pitching.
There's two more games left against the Padres, and tonight's game is on ESPN. Ted Lilly was rocked is his last start, so he'll look to get back on track.
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