Dodgers’ struggling offense still looks like a work in progress in 4-3 loss to Braves
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The Dodgers and zeroes were becoming the wrong kind of buddies.
Just when Frank McCourt was about to give his kingdom for a run -- OK, maybe just one of his estates -- the Dodgers managed a little rally Thursday.
In the eighth, after having scored two runs in their previous 31 innings, they put three runs across. Life!
Alas, it still left them one short in a 4-3 loss to the Braves. Guess they will have to chalk it up to progress.
The Dodgers’ offense has withered for days. It’s as if their bats suddenly got heavy.
They had gotten away with it the previous two nights, scoring a single run in extra innings both times, but Thursday the Braves put four runs up against Hiroki Kuroda, which proved one too many.
Right now the Dodgers can right struggling pitchers such as Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson, taking their fat earned-run averages and making them look like their former All-Star selves, or make a relative unknown such as Atlanta’s Kris Medlen look like an All-Star.
Melden, 24, shut out the Dodgers on three hits for seven innings until they finally scratched together their rally in the eighth.
More bad news: The Dodgers have managed three extra-base hits in their last 33 innings.
At least Andre Ethier, who was one for 14 since coming off the disabled list, got two hits. Although with two on in the eighth inning, he struck out and ended the Dodgers’ rally.
The Dodgers do have a theme going, after all.
-- Steve Dilbeck