Matt Kemp. Adrian Gonzalez. Andre Ethier. Hanley Ramirez. Shane Victorino.
Want to know how to beat them? Score one unearned run, and you've got it made.
So this is what it's come to for the Dodgers. Despite Clayton Kershaw looking fantastic after being bumped back a game with a sore hip, the offense once again came up empty. An error by Ramirez in the seventh led to a run-scoring double by Miguel Montero, and the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers, 1-0.
I'm not even sure why I even bother updating the NL West standings anymore, but the Giants are now up by six games. Thanks for Bud Selig, the Dodgers are only one game in back of the Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot. So there is hope, even when the Dodgers seem hopeless.
The offense started the game in red hot fashion: Mark Ellis struck out, Victorino struck out, and Gonzalez dribbled one to the catcher. Wow, talk about setting a tone for the night! Actually, that's exactly what they did now that I think about it...
Anyway, Kershaw got through the first couple of innings with ease, and helped himself by picking off Paul Goldschmidt at first.
The third was a little more interesting. After the Dodgers shockingly grounded into a double play (at least they're consistent with that), the DBacks loaded the bases on a single by John McDonald, and walks with two outs to Adam Eaton and Aaron Hill. Kershaw settled down to get Jason Kubel grounding to second.
Still a scoreless game in the fifth, the Dodgers finally had a chance to score, so naturally they were burned by some terrific defense in the outfield. Ethier doubled with two outs to bring up Luis Cruz. Cruz lifted a long fly to left, but Kubel made a great leaping catch to hold the Dodgers off the board again. Figures.
The seventh is when the DBacks got their lead and kept it for good. Goldschmidt grounded one deep into short that Ramirez bounced to first, and Gonzalez was unable to make the play. Justin Upton flew out, but Goldschmidt took advantage of the E6 with an RBI double to right, and it was 1-0.
Cruz tried to get things going with a one-out single in the eighth. The returning Dee Gordon then came in to run for him, which seemed like a good idea...
... Except that A.J. Ellis grounded into his second double play of the game to squash that threat. I like ya, A.J., but your breakout season looks like it's long since come to a screeching halt. His OBP is still high at .385, but he's hardly made much noise at all lately.
The DBacks put a couple on in the eighth, but Paco Rodriguez (great name!) struck out Kubel to end the inning. Victorino doubled off of David Hernandez with two outs in the ninth, but of course Gonzalez struck out to end the game. Shocking.
I think Don Mattingly said it perfectly by stating that he knows these guys will hit, but he needs them to hit now. And speaking of "hits," he really hit the nail right on the head. I continue to be more and more amazed and bewildered that this group just looks flat out lost at the plate. Never in my wildest dreams did I picture this group struggling so much to score runs. If anything, I thought it was the pitching that would drag the team down. Not so.
Kershaw did what he could, as he battled through seven innings for three hits, one unearned run, three walks, and five strikeouts. He's given up three earned runs in his last three games... and all three games the Dodgers lost (one no-decision for him along the way). That's really all you have to look at right there. Their ace is being an ace, and he gets zero support.
I'll give plenty of credit to Ian Kennedy for looking every big like the Cy Young contender he was last season, as he gave up four hits and no walks in over seven innings, striking out six. It's not like the Dodgers have been hitting anyway, but those are still great numbers for him. All he needed was that one run.
The crazy thing about this slump is that the Dodgers can win the next two, the Cardinals can lose the next two, and the Dodgers are playing postseason baseball. Doesn't seem like they really deserve it, though, but that doesn't matter. They just have to find a way to get in.
Maybe Aaron Harang will throw a complete game shutout and hit a solo homer on Wednesday. That's kind of what it's come to for this team. Trevor Cahill will counter for the DBacks.
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