Dodgers Just Can’t Get Off the Treadmill

Maybe the Dodgers are simply going through a difficult phase, and will soon perform as they were expected to this season.

They still have plenty of time left, though less after a 3-2 interleague loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

The Dodgers lost their second game in as many days and dropped back to .500 (28-28) before a crowd of 26,462 at Dodger Stadium. The Rangers (34-22) are atop the American League West, showing the Dodgers how things are supposed to be done.

Starter Aaron Sele (6-4) pitched seven-plus strong innings. Closer John Wetteland, among many former Dodgers on the Rangers, pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 20th save, retiring pinch-hitter Todd Hundley to end the game.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth against reliever Jeff Zimmerman. They cut the lead to 3-2 on a sacrifice fly by Eric Karros, but stranded two when pinch-hitter Dave Hansen fouled out.

“We’re fine, we’re fine. . . . this can’t get any worse, can it?” said center fielder Devon White, who is expected to be sidelined three to four days because of a groin pull.

“Of course it can. When we start swinging the bats, everybody will say that we’re doing what we’re supposed to do. But right now, we’re all underachieving.”

The Rangers went ahead, 3-1, in the eighth, scoring twice and chasing starter Ismael Valdes (5-4). One-out, run-scoring singles by Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez ended Valdes’ night.

With two on and one out, Dodger Manager Davey Johnson let the right-handed Valdes face the lefty Palmeiro, who had singled and doubled already. Palmeiro promptly singled to right to drive in Mark McLemore, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

Reliever Alan Mills worked out of a bases-loaded jam when Royce Clayton grounded into a double play.

Valdes gave up nine hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings while striking out eight. He didn’t appear to be bothered by the recurring blister on the tip of the middle finger of his pitching hand.

“He’s my guy. I want to show him that I have all the confidence in the world in him,” Johnson said of his Valdes-Palmeiro decision. “I wanted him to know that it was his game.”

The Dodgers tied the score, 1-1, in the seventh on a run-scoring groundout by rookie catcher Angel Pena.

Trenidad Hubbard opened the inning by doubling off the glove of Texas center fielder Tom Goodwin. Hubbard, who replaced White during the game, advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by catcher Rodriguez.

With one out and the infield in, Pena grounded to short. Hubbard scored easily from third because Clayton didn’t bother to throw to the plate, going to first for the second out.

Then Valdes faltered in the eighth. Four of the five batters he faced reached base.

“I tried to keep my team in the game,” Valdes said. “Texas is just a very good team.”

The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the second on Todd Zeile’s two-out ground-rule double. The former Dodger third baseman went three for three with a walk.

White appeared to struggle while trying to catch the ball Zeile’s double and was replaced by Hubbard in the top of the fourth because of his groin pull.

The switch-hitter sat out seven games in May because of tightness in his right hamstring. Johnson wants to give the 36-year-old outfielder more time off, but his options are limited because outfielder Todd Hollandsworth is on the 15-day disabled list because of a torn abdominal muscle.

“We have guys out right now, and we just have to do the best we can until they get back,” Johnson said. “Would I rather be at full strength? Of course I would. But that’s just not the way it is. You have to deal with it.”