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It only seems to get worse for Dodgers: They’re swept by the Giants, losing fifth straight, 2-0

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So limp, so weak, so lifeless.

Ten games, the Dodgers’ biggest road trip of the season, and they are shrinking before our eyes. Melting like the Wicked Witch after she was splashed with a bucket of water.

The Dodgers cannot hit, which naturally tends to make a team appear lifeless, but they are six games into their trip now, left 1-5 after the Giants completed a three-game sweep Sunday with a 2-0 victory.

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It was only the first game of August, but their fifth consecutive loss left them eight games back of the San Diego Padres in the National League West and 6½ back of the Giants for the NL wild card.

Suddenly the calendar is beginning to look small.

Things are so bad, that Matt Cain beat the Dodgers for the first time in 15 career starts. He came in 0-8 vs. the Dodgers, but left looking as if he was the Giants’ two-time Cy Young winner.

The Dodgers got their usual strong start, this time from Clayton Kershaw, but as typical lately, it went for naught.

Kershaw gave up a two-run triple to Edgar Renteria in the sixth inning that accounted for all the scoring. Dodgers starters have a combined 1.81 earned-run average in their last 15 games.

Yet they’re 5-10 in those 15 games.

Because they just can’t score, not against Tim Lincecum and not against Cain.

The Dodgers managed four hits Sunday, which is getting to be their per game average. No hits means no runs, means mounting losses and growing frustration.

The Dodgers have scored two or fewer runs in nine of their last 11 games. That’s a pulse barely registering.

They never really threatened Cain (9-8), who went 7 2/3 innings, shutting the Dodgers out on the four hits, all singles, while striking out seven and walking just one.

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Kershaw matched him through five innings, until Matt Kemplost Renteria’s drive in the twilight sun in the sixth. No sun, maybe Kemp has a chance for a diving catch. Maybe.

But little is going the Dodgers’ way. After Pat Burrell doubled in the sixth, with two outs, the Dodgers elected to intentionally walk Aaron Rowand to bring up Renteria.

Renteria, who had only 19 RBIs all season, was 0-for-9 lifetime against Kershaw. Make that 21 RBIs and one for 10.

Kershaw went seven innings, allowing the two runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out six as his record dropped to 10-5.

The Dodgers fell to just three games over .500 at 54-51. They now return home to face the Padres in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium, a team desperately looking for a sign of life.

-- Steve Dilbeck

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