Dodgers snore their way to another loss

This season has been full of embarrassing moments both on an off the field for the Dodgers. Saturday night brought the latest examples from each.

As the Dodgers were flailing away helplessly at a bunch of middle relievers from the Marlins, a small fire broke out in a warehouse near Dodger Stadium, causing a whole mass of people to relocate seats (it wasn't hard - nobody was there) in the upper deck.

It's probably not surprising that the Dodgers lost again, 6-1. With the loss (again), the Dodgers are now seven games under .500 as they continue to challenge the Padres for dead last in the NL West. At this rate, they'll be there in no time.

Hiroki Kuroda got the start, and he was coming off a rough start against the White Sox, which came immediately after being practically untouchable in the previous two. This start would see the bad Kuroda, as he gave up a season-high 10 hits in only 5 1/3 innings of work.

In the first, Chris Coghlan led off the game with a double. That was a sign of things to come, as after Hanley Ramirez's groundout got him to third, Logan Morrison lifted a sac-fly RBI for the 1-0 lead. Gabby Sanchez then doubled and scored on a single by Gregg Dobbs, and it was 2-0 just like that.

The Dodgers got on the board in the third. Kuroda led off with a walk of all things. Rafael Furcal then singled. Now with two outs, Matt Kemp lifted an RBI double to left to cut the deficit to 2-1. That was Kemp's 35th run batted in on the season, good for seventh in the National League. Imagine if he had a good offense around him? He could be in first.

Kuroda gave that run right back in the fourth. Sanchez opened it up with a double. Kuroda got the next two out, but Omar Infante's RBI single put their lead up to 3-1.

The game was broken open for good in the sixth. Dobbs again burned the Dodgers with a double leading off. Mike Stanton walked, and Infante's sacrifice put runners in scoring position. Out went Kuroda, and in came Mike MacDougal, who got Brett Hayes grounding out. But, Wes Helms bounced one just inside the first base line for a two-run double, and it was 5-1.

The final run came in the seventh against Kenley Jansen, who was all over the place. He somehow only gave up a run on an RBI single by Dobbs. It wasn't surprising, as Dobbs is torching the Dodgers this year with a .563 average in five games.

After this latest putrid outing from the Dodgers, they're now 27th in the baseball in runs scored. They're also 26th in slugging percentage, which obviously shows a complete lack of power. Then there's RBIs, which they're 28th. You get the point by now.

The biggest problem with the Dodgers is that they're so freakin' boring to watch. I understand they don't have a lineup that will put up a bunch of runs, but geez, when's the last time you watched a game in which they just went off? In looking at the month of May, they won 10-3 over the Pirates on the 10th. They've played 16 games after that in which they never just cruised to victory. That's how awful this offense is.

So the question is, How can the Dodgers break out of this slump? That's something that's been asked for awhile now, to no avail. It's probably as simple as getting Andre Ethier and Kemp to hit again. This month, Ethier's hitting .228, and Kemp .247. If they don't hit, forget about it.

Another guy who's key to the offense is Raffy, who recently returned from injury. To say it's been a struggle is an understatement. In six games since his return, he's 3-for-26 with five strikeouts. Here's another big stat: he has zero walks... as the leadoff hitter. He'll never be the most patient person at the plate, but that's just not getting it done.

Every team goes through peaks and valleys during the season, and the Dodgers are desperately looking to get another peak going. The only way that will ever happen is if someone steps up and leads the way at the plate. I have just as many doubts as anyone else does if that will ever actually happen, but there is plenty of time left in the season. I just hope it does or they'll continue to embarrass themselves night in and night out.

Sunday's rubber match will be a great pitching duel. Clayton Kershaw will go against Ricky Nolasco. So if you expect the offense to break out of their slump in this game, you can think again. Let's just hope Kershaw makes life even tougher on the Fish.