PHOENIX – Maybe it’s beneath a two-time defending champion to panic over an August losing streak or a division lead that has shrunk from double digits. But it might be time for some real concern.
Saturday’s precarious victory might have snapped that seven-game losing streak but the Dodgers slipped back into their midseason malaise Sunday, losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks again, 4-2.
“It’s baseball. Ups and downs,” veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We’re going to go through it. No one’s worried in here. It just so happens to be in a time where our pitching’s been pitching good the last couple games. As an offense we got to do better. So hopefully that starts tomorrow.
“There’s no concern in here. We’re a good team.”
There has been little evidence of that recently.
The Dodgers have looked lifeless at the plate and vulnerable on the mound while losing eight of their past nine. But the malaise goes deeper than that. They have lost 15 of their past 24 and have been a .500 team (21-21) for a quarter of the season.
“I don’t think there’s concern. We’ve still got a really good ball club. There’s certainly not panic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, picking up the theme. “I think for us, it’s just finding a way to win, win a game, and win consistently. I think that’s the focus versus what type of emotions you’re feeling. That doesn’t – it’s just not helpful anyway, regardless.”
In 21 games since the All-Star break, the Dodgers rank 23rd in runs scored (85). Their 4.49 ERA since the break is higher than all but four teams in MLB.
“I think it’s just when you’re losing like we’re losing, it’s always a combination,” Roberts said. “Some days it’s the starters. Some days it’s the relievers. Some days it’s the offense. And when you can sync those up, you have a better chance to win. And when you don’t — which we haven’t in that span of time you talked about — you lose more than you win. And so, yeah, we’re certainly not playing up to our capabilities.”
Sunday’s loss fit in well with the rest.
The Dodgers managed just two runs and five hits in seven innings against Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez who struck out nine. They put together two singles (Kike’ Hernandez and Ben Rortvedt) and an RBI double (Andy Pages) to score their first run in the third inning. A triple by Kyle Tucker that took an erratic bounce in the right field corner allowed Freeman to score their second run in the sixth inning.
During the series in Arizona, the Diamondbacks starters (Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt and Rodriguez) held the Dodgers to three runs on nine hits over 19 2/3 innings.
“I think this series it was very clear that we weren’t hitting the fastball and we were exposing ourselves to the changeup with the secondary specifically,” Roberts said, pointing out an ongoing lack of success against fastballs. “Are the Royals (who arrive in Los Angeles on Monday) going to exploit the fastball that we’re not hitting and the changeup below? I don’t know. But we have to make adjustments. I think for me that’s sort of what I see as a group — we’re just not making adjustments.”
Sunday’s two runs weren’t enough because Justin Wrobleski’s All-Star magic seems to have disappeared in the second half.
Wrobleski walked the leadoff man in the first inning but seemed to be out of the inning when Gabriel Moreno bounced a grounder to Freeman. He threw to second for one out but shortstop Mookie Betts hesitated on his return throw and couldn’t turn the double play, bringing Ketel Marte to the plate. Wrobleski left a fastball up and in to Marte and he lined it into the seats for a two-run home run — the ninth home run Wrobleski had allowed in an 11-inning stretch.
“I guess you can put it in the category of a heady play by Perdomo because he was running inside the baseline,” Roberts said of the potential double play that wasn’t turned. “Freddie made a great throw, and then he (Perdomo) crossed Mookie’s eyeline, going to the outside of the bag.
“Very weird play, but it’s not obstruction. But next time I think we’ve just got to throw through because it wasn’t impeding, but it sort of was intentional.”
An inning later, Wrobleski kept the ball in the park but it still didn’t work out for him.
Tyler Locklear led off with a double and Ryan Waldschmidt squared around to bunt him to third. Wrobleski fielded the ball in front of the mound but threw high and wide to first base, allowing Locklear to score. Another run scored on an RBI double by Moreno.
Roberts pulled Wrobleski with two on and one out in the fourth inning, his shortest outing of the season after lasting just 4 1/3 in his previous start. Wrobleski has allowed 16 runs in 13 2/3 innings over his past three starts.
“I’m just not good enough right now. It’s kind of what it comes down to,” Wrobleski said. “It’s really frustrating. Execution just hasn’t been as good. I feel like today just wasn’t good enough. And, again, I gotta be better. So, again, move forward. I’m not the type to give up. So I’m ready to bear down.”
Four Dodgers relievers followed Wrobleski with 4 2/3 hitless innings, retiring all 14 Diamondbacks batters they faced. But the Dodgers’ offense finished the weekend with just seven runs scored in the three games.
“I thought there were some good at-bats today, I really did,” Roberts said. “Then we have some bad at-bats mixed in there to kill innings. It never feels good to play down 4-0 after two innings. But that’s no excuse. You’ve still got to separate and still produce runs.
“But I think the main thing is trying to get together and trying to win consistently. It’s not about one part of the team. It’s just all of us being better and finding ways.”