Dodgers double their own trouble in 4-1 loss to Rangers

Win some, lose some. In the course of a 162-game schedule, every team will do plenty of both.

When the Dodgers look back on their 4-1 loss to the Rangers on Monday at -- deep breath now -- Globe Life Park in Arlington, they may have trouble remembering just how it slipped away.

Part of that could be from lack of sleep, the boys not getting back to their hotel until about 5 a.m. Having to make unexpected plane changes in Los Angeles on the way from San Diego to Texas can do that.

They looked plenty lifeless against the Rangers, managing only seven hits. Yet they still could have pulled out the win, but when you’re bouncing into four double plays, it can make it difficult to put runs on the board.

The Dodgers kept getting the leadoff runner on base and then erasing the threat by hitting into double plays. They went 0 for seven with runners in scoring position.

The Dodgers’ Carlos Frias and the Rangers’ Yovani Gallardo were locked in a scoreless duel through five innings. In the sixth, both got into trouble by walking their first two batters. The Dodgers naturally bounced into a double play and were left empty. The Rangers, however, turned it into four runs.

Prince Fielder singled in the first run and Mitch Moreland the second. After the runners were advanced on a sacrifice bunt, Manager Don Mattingly went to left-hander Adam Liberatore. Rougned Odor singled in two more, and the Rangers had a 4-0 lead.

The Dodgers finally figured out a way to score in the eighth inning. Yasmani Grandal dispensed with all this double-play nonsense by hitting a solo home run to deep center. It was his eighth of the year.

The Dodgers tried to do more damage in the inning when Alberto Callaspo walked and Joc Pederson singled, but Yasiel Puig was struck out by reliever Tanner Scheppers. Puig was so upset he did his Bo Jackson imitation, breaking his bat over his right knee. Adrian Gonzalez popped up and the threat was over.

Frias (4-4) pitched well until the sixth. He was charged with all four runs in his 5 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and three walks. Gallardo went to 6-6 with the win. He threw seven innings, holding the Dodgers scoreless on four hits.