The Los Angeles Dodgers failed to build on momentum from sweeping the San Diego Padres as their modest three-game winning streak was snapped in a loss to the Colorado Rockies last Friday and the club went on to drop the series at Dodger Stadium.
They fell particularly flat on Sunday afternoon, managing just three hits and needing to use Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning and Justin Turner in the ninth as means of protecting a bullpen that’s shouldered a significant workload this month.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts further explained Turner was asked to pitch because he didn’t sense the club would mount any sort of rally given their struggles at the plate.
Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela carried a perfect game into the fifth inning and allowed just two hits overall. He finished with five strikeouts across seven scoreless innings. The lack of production was an extension of the Dodgers’ struggles over the past week.
“I think there’s some balls we squared up and don’t have anything to show for it,” Roberts said. “I think there’s some early outs, some bad at-bats in there. It’s probably one of those funks that we’re in right now.”
L.A. hit .178 last week and were 16-for-87 (.184) during the Rockies series, which included going 2-for-19 with runners in scoring position.
“Hitting is contagious, and hopefully we can turn it around [Monday], because we’re going to need to,” Roberts said.
Dodgers don’t gain on Giants
The Dodgers’ two losses to the Rockies came on the same days as the San Francisco Giants suffering the same result, which kept their lead in the National League West at 2.5 games.
“I just think this series offensively was pretty frustrating, and the byproduct is we didn’t gain a couple games when we had opportunities,” Roberts said. “Regardless of how those guys play, if we’re not putting good at-bats together, building innings and finishing those innings, then it’s all moot.
“I think for us, it’s just continue to focus on ourselves, pitch and play good defense. I think we’re doing a very good job of, so now it’s just get the offense untracked.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
