Dodgers Make Five Errors, and Lose Series to Padres

The loserfest at Dodger Stadium continued today as the Dodgers made five errors, (four from the pathetic infield), and lost the game and the series to the Padres 7-2. The Giants beat the Astros, and the Dodgers drop another game behind the Giants and are now a game and a half back.

Before the game scheduled starter Chad Billingsley was a late scratch because of a sore elbow. It looks like Bills has been bothered by elbow soreness for the last few weeks now but failed to tell the coaching staff because he thought it was normal wear and tear. It’s another instance of a player not telling the team about an injury. Yeah that always turns out well doesn’t it? Bills had an MRI today and as soon as we find out the results we will let you know.

The Dodgers had Chris Capuano start in Bill’s place against Journeyman Jason Marquis. I thought that improved our chances of winning by ten-fold, until I saw the terrible throwaway lineup put out by manager Don Mattingly. Juan Uribe at shortstop. Tony Gwynn in center field. Matt Kemp day off. Matt Treanor behind the plate. There is no reason to be playing that fat worthless piece of crap Uribe. No reason. Of course Uribe went 0 for 4 and his average is now down to a pitful .193. James Loney was also in the lineup and he is almost as equally pathetic. I understand Mattingly is trying to look at the big picture by resting Kemp, but seriously, the Dodgers have lost six of their last seven series, and while the Dodgers try and figure out how to improve the lineup, they are sinking in the standings. The Dodgers have no corner infielders and it is killing the team right now. Predictably this showed today as the infield made four errors all on throws. Jerry Hairston made two errors, and one each from Loney, Uribe, and Mark Ellis. The Dodgers could only muster up two runs on seven hits. Andre Ethier drove in one of the runs with an RBI single, and Hairston drove in the second run with his own RBI single.

Cappy was fine until he tired in the seventh inning. Of course Mattingly failed to see all of the tell tale signs of an impending meltdown. Nearing 100 pitches, missing the strike zone and walking guys, and hanging pitches. Cappy wasn’t the problem though, and none of the four runs he gave up were earned because of the bums in the infield. Jason Maquis got the win allowing two runs on six hits through six innings, walked three and whiffed two. The Dodgers jumped out in front early by scoring a run in the bottom of the first. Tony Gwynn leads off with an infield single and steals second base. Mark Ellis walks, and Andre Ethier singles to right to score Gwynn giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. It wouldn’t last though. The Dodgers could have scored more, but Bobby Abreu grounded into a force out, and resident Bum James Loney grounds into an inning ending double play.

The Padres tie it up in the top of the fourth. Logan Forsythe, and Chase Headley have consecutive singles to put two runners on. Carlos Quentin hits what should have been an easy double play ball. The Dodgers get the out at second base, but Uribe’s feed to Ellis is bad, and Ellis throws the ball away. (Error number1) Forsythe scores, and the game is tied at 1-1. Yonder Alonso’s double play gets the Dodgers out of this inning without further damage.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Dodgers eek out a run to take a 2-1 lead. Loney doubles, and Hairston’s RBI single scores Loney. Luckily Cameron Maybin’s throw from center field hits the mound and bounces away, allowing Loney to score. Uribe makes out as usual. Treanor is intentionally walked, and then Mattingly doesn’t have Capuano pinch-hit for, and he flies out, and the Dodgers only get one run.

The Padres scored six runs over the last three innings. They scored three in the seventh, one in the eighth, and two more in the ninth. Quentin, and Alonso both fly out to lead off the seventh inning off Capuano. The meltdown starts as Cappy nears 100 pitches, ignited by another pathetic error from the useless infield. Maybin’s grounder to third would have been the third out, but Hairston throws the ball away. Cabrera singles Maybin to second. Baker walks to load the bases. Mattingly again remains as passive as ever choosing to ignore the meltdown. Usually he waits until the bases are loaded, but this time he just leaves in Cappy to blow the lead, and well, he does. Yasmani Grandal pinch-hits for Maquis. Cappy actually got a ground ball to third, unfortunately the Dodgers have a bunch of losers playing the infield. Hairston makes his second throwing error of the inning allowing two runs to score, and the padres now lead 3-2. The game unraveled after this point. Josh Lindblom is called in to replace Cappy, and gives up a single to Alexi Amarista to score another run. It’s 4-2 San Diego now.

Chase Headley hit his second home run of the season off of Lindblom in the top of the eighth inning to put the Padres out in front 5-2. San Diego added two more in the ninth off of Jamey Wright, and that was it. The Dodgers lose again, today, by a score of 7-2.

We don’t know yet who will pitch on Tuesday against the Phillies. Nathan Eovaldi will be moved up to pitch tomorrow, and Clayton Kershaw is still on schedule to pitch against Cliff Lee on Wednesday, but Tuesday is up in the air. There was talk of having Wright pitch the first few innings and have a “bullpen game” I really hate that idea by the way. It’s stupid, foolish, and more than likely a forfeit. Since Wright pitched the ninth inning today, that seems unlikely, (thank god). The most likely scenario is the Dodgers will have to call up John Ely. Yes that’s right! This could allow us to see the return of Elymania! Hey at least we get to see that.

Even with Kemp and Ethier back, this team is going nowhere fast. I believe wholesale changes need to be made to the roster in order for the Dodgers to have a chance at competing. Half of the roster needs to be purged. The team really sucks right now, and they are becoming very hard to watch. I’ve been through many bad years with the Dodgers, so I am used to this pathetic losing. I knew right away this would be a for sure loss as soon as I saw that pathetic lineup. The team can’t win with no corner infielders. Juan Uribe and James Loney suck. They can’t keep going with those guys. Enough is enough.

Anyways, the Phillies come into town for a three game series to conclude the homestand. Joe Blanton will take the mound for the Phillies tomorrow night. The Dodgers will counter with Nathan Eovaldi. Please join us for tomorrow’s loser convention, at 7PM. Wow the Dodgers suck right now, and it’s getting tiring. Go Blue.