Here's your latest indication that the Dodgers are terrible: they are one game away from suffering a four-game sweep at home against the Mets. It's that bad.
The Mets continued to do plenty of damage with two outs, as a three-run sixth lifted them to a victory over the pitiful Dodgers, 5-3. The Dodgers are now 14 games under .500 and remain in dead last in the NL West.
Hiroki Kuroda, despite his misleading record, has been the second best Dodgers' pitcher this season, just behind Clayton Kershaw. Kuroda got through the opening three innings just fine, but of course was given no run support to work with. As usual, his luck would soon run out.
In the fourth, Carlos Beltran, who's revived his career quite nicely with a well-deserved All-Star selection this year, doubled leading off. He went to third on a groundout, but Jason Bay grounded back to the mound for two outs. Unlike the Dodgers, who are horrendous with two outs, the Mets drove the runner in on an RBI double from Lucas Duda, making it 1-0.
Somehow, the Dodgers actually got that run back in the bottom of the frame. Jamey Carroll laid down a great bunt to reach leading off. Andre Ethier forced him out at second, but Matt Kemp's single put runners on the corners. Juan Uribe got the run in on a groundout, and it was 1-1.
The Mets took the lead for good in the sixth. Again, Beltran doubled leading off. Apparently James Loney didn't get the memo that he likes to hit down the line. Daniel Murphy flied out to Eugenio Velez in left, but Velez airmailed a throw to the infield, allowing Beltran to move up. Just a horrible play overall, and made even worse when Kuroda uncorked a wild pitch to score Beltran and make it 2-1. After two more singles, Ruben Tejada's two-run double scored them both for the 4-1 lead.
About the only time the Dodgers showed any fight all night came in the bottom of the sixth where they nearly tied it up. Rafael Furcal walked, about the only positive thing he's done since coming back from injury #7,625. Carroll singled again, and Ethier went the other way with an RBI single to make it 4-2. Kemp got Carroll over to third on a grounder, and Uribe got a sac-fly RBI to go down 4-3. Kemp stole second, but Loney grounded out to end the inning.
The score remained the same until the ninth when the Dodgers' crappy bullpen gave up another run. Javy Guerra was in, and Willie Harris doubled with one out. Angel Pagan flied out, but once again the Mets came through in the clutch as Justin Turner hit an RBI single for the 5-3 lead.
Frankie Rodriguez got his 22nd save as he only gave up a single to Uribe.
Kuroda tried, but was ultimately done in by one bad inning and hardly any offensive support. He lasted six innings for eights hits, four runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. He's now 6-10 with a 3.06 ERA. That's just laughable that the guy has that many losses and that strong of an ERA. Such is life when you pitch for the Dodgers.
The offense managed only seven baserunners the entire game. In other words, it was another day at the office. Carroll had a good game with three hits, and Uribe had a couple of RBIs. Kemp stole his 25th base. That's it when it comes to highlights on the offensive end. These guys are so boring, I'm surprised I didn't fall asleep watching them.
What makes me even angrier is watching Velez stink up the joint just knowing that he's the guy who replaced Dee Gordon. I know it's a small sample size, but Velez is 0-for-6 and had that horrible throw from left in this one. There is absolutely no reason Gordon should be sent down. Especially when the guy replacing him looks lost right now. The Dodgers have to correct this soon if they have any common sense.
I'm not sure what else to even say about the Dodgers at this point. They just continue to fall deeper and deeper in the standings. Kemp and Kershaw are the only ones to fear on this team. The starting rotation is decent, the bullpen is terrible, and the hitters can't drive people in. And that's the harsh truth.
The Dodgers will look to avoid a sweep on Thursday, something I never pictured myself saying before the season started. Kershaw will get the call in his last start before becoming an All-Star. I'm sure he can't wait to get the hell out of LA and join other players who actually know how to play this game.
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