Dodgers Ohfer Away Another Game To Colorado

The Dodger offense is pathetic. Everyone keeps yelling about the pitching, but the pitching is fine. It’s the offense that is the problem. The last two games are prime examples of why the Dodgers continue to lose. The Dodgers simply just don’t have a major league quality offense, and you can’t win games without one. Remember they were shutout last night.

The Dodgers lost again tonight on Sandy Koufax bobblehead night. Sandy would have been proud of Aaron Harang who turned in a quality stat. But it didn’t matter what Harang did as the Dodgers could only muster up one run on four hits off of the second worst team in Baseball, and the worst pitching staff in the league. The Rockies beat the Dodgers 3-1, and won their first series in Los Angeles since September of 2010.

Harang pitched six frames allowing three runs on six hits, four walks, and four whiffs. But of course like always, the Dodgers pathetic offense couldn’t score. Harang takes the loss and drops to 7-7 on the season. Alex White was the starting pitcher for the Rockies, but it doesn’t matter who is on the mound. The Dodgers couldn’t score if someone put home plates in front of their doors.  White pitched four scoreless innings and only allowed one hit, despite walking five. Josh Roenicke picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief. He was followed by Rex Brothers, Matt Belisle, and Rafael Betancourt.

Colorado scored one run in the fifth, when Young singled, and Josh Rutledge doubled him home. They would add two more in the top of the seventh. Nelson singled, and Young walked, and Rutledge smacked another double to score both Nelson and Rutledge. Eric Young Jr. was the Rockies main assassin, he was 3 for 5 tonight with two runs scored. EY has six hits in the series. The Dodgers only had one hit until the seventh inning. The Dodgers scored their lone measly run when Hanley Ramirez singled, and Mark Ellis pinch-hitting, doubled him home.

Eric Young starts the game with a single.  Josh Rutledge doubles Young to third with none out. And here we go again. Another first inning hole, or so it seems. Harang battles his demons and gets out of it. Dexter Fowler whiffs on a foul tip. The Dodgers intentionally walk Carlos Gonzalez. A most wise decision. Jordan Pacheco grounds into a force out at the plate. Loney finally makes the correct decision and gets the lead runner this time. Catcher Ramon Hernadez grounds out back to the box for the third out. Amazing, the Dodgers get out of it unscathed.

Alex White retires Shane Victorino, to lead off the bottom of the first. Of course the Dodgers go down 123 in the first inning. Jerry Hairston grounds out to second. Although Jonathan Herrera makes a great play to throw Jerry out. Matt Kemp flies out to center.

Tyler Colvin whiffs. Jonathan Herrera grounds out back to the box, on a bang bang play. Opposing starter Alex White hits a shallow pop into center, and Kemp races in to make a great diving catch. Nice play Bison!

Andre Ethier leads off the bottom of the second and grounds out to second. Hanley Ramirez fouls a ball off his foot, and the trainers have to come out and take a look at him when he comes up lame. He is ok and stays in the game, and immediately singles to left. James Loney grounds to first, and Jordan Pacheco, steps on first and then throws to second. Now this is the same thing Loney did the last two games, and each time it cost the Dodgers a run. Once Pacheco stepped on the bag at first base, he erased the force play, and you have to apply a tag to get the lead runner. Pacheco’s throw is late, and Ramirez is safe at second. Then there is a wild pitch that sends Hanley to third. Luis Cruz walks, but A.J. Ellis grounds out to end the frame.

Young singles again to lead off the third inning. That’s his second hit of the game. Rutledge a little dribble to third, advances EY jr. to second. Fowler pops out. Cargo is intentionally walked again, and Pacheco grounds out.

Bottom of the third. Aaron Harang whiffs. Victorino walks. With Hairston at-bat, Victorino steals second. Hairston flies to center. There is another wild pitch that advances Victorino to third. Kemp walks. Ethier is walked intentionally to load the bases. White goes full count to Hanley, and after all that Hanley flies out to left, and the Dodgers don’t score. Sigh.

Top of the fourth. Herandez pops out. Colvin grounds out. Herrera whiffs, and we remain scoreless. Loney bloops one into left, but Cargo races into shallow left to make a diving catch. Cruz flies out to deep center. AJ draws a two out walk, but Harang whiffs. Still no score.

Colorado breaks the scoreless tie and scores one, but could have scored more. Nelson whiffs. Young singles again. The Dodgers can’t get him out for some reason. That’s his third hit of the night. Rutledge doubles over the head of Kemp to score Young, Colorado leads 1-0. Fowler reaches on a rare bumbling error from Loney. Cargo walks to load the bases. Pacheco grounds into the 4-3 double play, and the Dodgers get out of it.

Josh Roenicke replaces White, and retires the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the fifth. White was on the 75 pitch count, and reached his limit last inning. Harang retires Hernandez, Colvin, and Herrera on grounders to end the top of the sixth. More outs in the bottom of the sixth. Ethier pops out. Hanley whiffs. Loney grounds out. Nothing.

Top of the seventh, Harang’s final inning does not go well for the Dodgers. Nelson singles. Young walks. Tolleson is called in to relieve Harang. Rutledge doubles in Nelson and Young to extend the Rockies lead to 3-0. Fowler singles, and now there are runners at first and third. Mattingly hooks Tolleson and brings in lefty Randy Choate. Cargo grounds out. Mattingly makes yet another pitching change, this time as part of a double switch. Jamey Wright comes into pitch, and Juan Rivera in at first base. Wright contains the damage at two. The pitcher Roenicke whiffs, and Hernandez grounds out. In the bottom of the seventh with one out, AJ walks. Rivera walks. Victorino legs out an infield single. Hairston flies out to center.

Move to the bottom of the eighth, with the Rockies still leading 3-0. The Dodgers finally score. With Rex Brothers on the mound. After Kemp and Ethier are both retired, Hanley reaches on an infield single to short. Colorado makes a pitching change, and brings in Matt Belisle, and the Dodgers counter with righty Mark Ellis. Mark responds with a pinch0hit RBI double, a line drive down the left field line. Hanley scores to make it a 3-1 game. Cruz pops out to end the frame.

The Rockies threaten off of Javy Guerra in the top of the ninth, but don’t score. Rutledge singles. Fowler and Cargo both whiff. Matt McBride singles. Hernandez lines out to left. OK here we go to the bottom of the ninth. In comes Colorado closer Rafael Betancourt. AJ and Rivera fly out. Victorino grounds out. Another pathetic loss at home.

I have nothing more to say. They suck right now. Nobody is hitting. Kemp and Ethier combined to go 0 for 6 tonight. That just can’t keep happening. If the Dodgers want to go anywhere this October, they need for their big boys to start hitting. They have to figure out a way to hit at home. The Giants and Arizona both won of course. The Dodgers fall to a game and a half behind the Giants. Arizona is still four games back.

The Dodgers will try and avoid the sweep tomorrow. Jeff Francis will make the start for Colorado, and the Dodgers will counter with Chad Billingsley. After the game, the Dodgers will depart on another log road-trip. Go Blue.