The Dodgers lost 2-1 to the San Diego Padres Tuesday night at Petco Park, in a battle of 22-year-old pitching phenoms. Padres ace Matt Latos emerged the victor, improving his record to 14-5 by striking out 10 in seven strong innings of one-run ball.
San Diego, apparently finding its second wind in these two recent wins against the Dodgers, maintained a one-game lead over the San Francisco Giants, who also won yesterday. Prior to this series against LA, San Diego had lost 10 straight.
The Padres improved to 78-59, while the Dodgers fell to 69-70.
Clayton Kershaw, the most consistent -- and arguably most valuable -- of any Dodger in 2010, nearly matched Latos pitch for pitch. He scattered two runs, five hits and one walk to go along with six strikeouts in seven innings. Since August 1, the 22-year-old southpaw has averaged nearly 6 2/3 innings while giving up just 2.25 runs per outing. Yet he only has one win to show during that span.
Kershaw can take solace in the fact that he is not unique among Dodger starters in receiving minimal run support, particularly in the second half. Collectively, the Dodgers have batted only .240 with a measly OPS of .657 since the all-star break.
It certainly hasn't helped matters that the 2010 Dodger OPS leaders (minimum 200 plate appearances) -- Manny Ramirez (.915) and Rafael Furcal (.864) -- have both been oft-injured this season. Furcal has played in just 22 games in the second half while Ramirez, of course, is no longer even with the team.
Tonight, Chad Billingsley (11-8, 3.54 ERA) takes the hill in the series finale for the Dodgers, perhaps prepared to battle both the Padre lineup as well as the demoralizing effect of pitching for a team with a futile attack.
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