Dodgers offense continues to falter in 13-1 blowout loss to Braves
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The starting pitching had been so good, so consistent, it was almost taken for granted.
It almost -- that’s almost -- masked the Dodgers’ continued struggles at the plate.
When their starting pitching did falter Sunday, the offensive woes were exposed for all to see. Raw and unsightly, feeble and unproductive.
The Braves, however, had no such problem, rolling to an easy 13-1 victory over the Dodgers.
And the days for the Dodgers (60-58), fourth in the NL West, to turn their season around seem to grow not by the game, but by chunks.
Right-hander Vicente Padilla (pictured at left) had a terrific seven-game stretch, going 4-1 with a 1.13 earned-run average. But Sunday he was off for the second consecutive start, giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. In his last two starts, he is 1-1 with an 11.57 ERA.
Since July 16, the Dodgers’ starters had combined for a stunning 2.48 ERA. For all their struggles early in the season, their rotation had suddenly become their strength.
Only now the Dodgers can’t hit. Not against aces or middle of the rotation guys or just about anyone from the bullpen.
Their offensive struggles have been more acute in Atlanta. In the first three games of this four-game series, the Dodgers have scored a total of three runs. And none were driven in via a hit. In the three games, the Dodgers have zero hits in 16 opportunities with runners in scoring position.
They were handcuffed Sunday by right-hander Jair Jurrjens, who went seven smooth innings to raise his record to 5-4. He gave up six hits, walked one and struck out seven. He made it look easy.
The only run he allowed came with no outs in the seventh when Brad Ausmus bounced into a double play with the bases loaded.
Without that, the Dodgers are shut out for the third time in five games.
Padilla (6-4) gave up four runs on five hits in the third and four more in the fifth, three coming from Troy Glaus’ 16th home run of the season.
At a time when the Dodgers desperately need to claim some momentum and make a run, they have now lost four of their last five.
Their offense is playing without three injured regulars -- Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal and Russell Martin -- and Manager Joe Torre rested struggling Casey Blake on Sunday.
The backups, and the backups to the backups, could not step up. Which lately, has been a continuing theme.
The 12-run deficit Sunday was the worst of their season.
--Steve Dilbeck