If the Dodgers want to prove they can win without Matt Kemp again, they sure aren't showing it.
Four errors led to an early deficit, and shaky bullpen work put the game out of reach as the Dodgers lost to the Rockies, 13-3. It was by far the worst game of the season for the Dodgers, and now puts their losing streak at five straight.
A sign of a long night came right in the first. Tony Gwynn singled leading off, and Andre Ethier did so an out later. Gwynn stole third to put runners on the corners, but Jerry Hairston, Jr. grounded into a double play to end it.
The sloppy play started in the second. Ivan De Jesus's throwing error allowed Michael Cuddyer to reach leading off. Wilton Rosario walked with two outs as Cuddyer went to third. Matt Treanor got the start behind the plate, and as Rosario was trying to steal second, Treanor's throw went into the outfield, bringing home both runners to make it 2-0.
The lone highlight of the night for the Dodgers came in the third. With Scott Van Slyke on second with a double, Alex Castellanos hit an RBI triple to make it 2-1. It was his first career big league hit, and he did it in style.
Too bad errors ruined any chance of making this game a close one. Hairston's error led to another run for the Rocks in the fourth, making it 3-1. An RBI single from the red hot Carlos Gonzalez an inning later increased it to 4-1.
Castellanos collected another RBI on a sac-fly, cutting it to 4-2, but that would be as close as the Dodgers would get on this night. After Todd Helton doubled to start the sixth, Rosario cracked a two-run shot to left, and it was 6-2. Run-scoring singles by Dexter Fowler and Marco Scutaro, with another damn error by Hairston along the way, put the Rocks up 8-2.
The rest of the runs didn't matter. Jamey Wright pitched the end of the sixth and into the seventh, and wasn't any good. Three more runs came in, but shockingly, none on errors! Wow!
Treanor collected an RBI on a groundout in the eighth to cut it to 11-3. But, back-to-back homers by Chris Nelson and Cuddyer closed the night out at 13-3.
Coors Field has been known to cause some crazy games. But I don't care where this game was being played - the Dodgers stood no chance with that kind of defense. Four errors in one game will never lead to a win. They're now ninth in the NL in fielding % and seventh in total errors. That's about middle of the pack, but if the Dodgers want to compete without their star for a month, that number has to get better.
Chris Capuano suffered his second loss on the season, as he lasted 5 1/3 innings for seven hits, seven runs (four earned), four walks, and three strikeouts. Not very good numbers, but it's not like he got any help, either. It's not easy to pitch when your defense is throwing the ball all over the place.
Speaking of not being very good, the combination of Wright and Josh Lindblom gave up six runs (five earned) in nearly three innings. Wright looked really bad, as his ERA shot back up to 5.01. He got it down to 3.50 after a scoreless appearance on May 21, but that's been quickly erased. He's just too unreliable right now. Lindblom gave up the consecutive homers, but that's one of his few bad outings he's had. So, he gets a pass.
The bottom line is that the Dodgers need to forget about who's not playing (Kemp, among a few others) and remember how they won without him last time. Every team goes through these stretches, but the concerning thing is that they seem to be getting a little worse with each loss. Winning a couple this weekend would erase all of that negativity.
Aaron Harang will get the ball on Saturday. This will already be his third start against the Rockies this year, as he was dominant at home, but not so on the road. Maybe he can channel his inner Chavez Ravine today.
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