This time Dodgers can’t muster a run in loss to Padres
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Come on, that’s only fair.
One night after beating the Padres, 1-0, the Dodgers experienced the wrong kind of 180.
Wednesday night the Padres returned the favor with a 3-0 victory that ended a losing streak against the Dodgers at five games. It was the 11th time the Dodgers have been shut out this season.
Left-hander Ted Lilly, who had been fairly awful in his last eight starts (7.02 earned-run average), was pretty darn good against the Padres, and lost. He gave up one run in his six innings.
Ten guesses how Lilly gave up the run. OK, one guess.
Yep, a home run. A shot by Jason Bartlett to lead off the sixth inning.
Of course, it was the 24th home run given up by Lilly this season, fourth most in the majors. Bartlett had hit only one home run this season.
In six innings, Lilly (7-11) gave up four hits, struck seven and walked one.
Trouble was, Tim Stauffer was just a little better. He held back the Dodgers over 6-1/3 innings.
The Dodgers had a few chances, but in what has largely been a season theme, failed to come up with the big hit.
Plus, Padres Manager Bud Black is a man who clearly learns from mistakes. Tuesday he elected to pitch to Matt Kemp with a runner in scoring position and the National League’s RBI leader drove in the only run.
Wednesday, after Andre Ethier doubled with two outs in the sixth inning, Black had Stauffer intentionally walk Kemp to bring up Juan Rivera, who promptly flied out.
The Dodgers’ best scoring opportunity came when they loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh inning. But Dee Gordon lined to reliever Josh Spence and Aaron Miles was caught looking at a third strike. The ball was right over the plate, though the 5-foot-8 Miles apparently thought it was high and fired his bat in protest.
Matt Guerrier gave up a triple to Aaron Cunningham to lead off the seventh inning and he scored on Gordon’s error. The Padres scored against Blake Hawksworth in the eighth on a Jesus Guzman single. RELATED:
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-- Steve Dilbeck