Dodgers still waiting for their offense to awaken after 7-2 loss to Padres

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Brother, can you spare some offense? Just a tiny little speck of offense?

Even the most optimistic of Dodgers fans did not expect the team to be an offensive force this season. Neither did the most negative expect them to rely heavily on opposing defenses going all Keystone Kops on them in order to generate any run production.

Alas, nine games in and the Dodgers’ offense has mostly played as though it still was in Arizona, trotting out for another meaningless spring game.

Their offensive struggles continued Sunday against the Padres and right-hander Aaron Harang, who last year on a good Reds team was 6-7 with a 5.32 earned-run average.

Harang held the Dodgers to three hits in his six-plus innings. The Dodgers mustered one more hit the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the offensively inept Padres hit three home runs on the way to an easy 7-2 victory. The Padres had hit a total of three home runs in their first seven games.

This offensive deluge by the Padres came against a so-so John Ely, a very human-looking Kenley Jansen and a his-days-could-be-numbered Lance Cormier.

The Dodgers were fortunate not to be shut out. They scored a run in the first inning on a little come-backer to side of the mound and once in the seventh on a throwing error by Harang.

Too many Dodgers are simply off to slow starts: Juan Uribe is batting .111, James Loney .143, Rafael Furcal .208, Rod Barajas .222, Aaron Miles .143 and Marcus Thames .182.

Loney bouncing into a game-ending double play Sunday was symbolic.

Ely filled in for injured Jon Garland, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up four runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out five and then probably packed his bags to be sent back to triple-A Albuquerque. Garland made a rehab start for the Inland Empire 66ers on Sunday, giving up three runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Fear not, optimists. The Dodgers now head to San Francisco, where the Giants’ offensive catalyst -- Aubrey Huff -- is still trying to master right field.

-- Steve Dilbeck