Dodgers Falling and Can’t Get Up

Until Wednesday night, the Dodgers’ second-half stumbles could be rationalized because their mounting losses came against two of the top teams in the National League.

The defending World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks are in first place in the NL West and the St. Louis Cardinals lead the NL Central.

But the San Diego Padres have the second-worst record in the National League and the fourth-worst record in the major leagues at 38-56.

No matter.

Brian Lawrence and the cellar-dwelling Padres shut out the Dodgers, 7-0, before 33,778 at Dodger Stadium, extending the Dodgers’ losing streak to three games.

The Dodgers, who were blanked for the 10th time this season, are now 1-6 since the All-Star break. They have lost seven of their last eight games and nine of their last 12.

“There’s no getting around the fact that right now we’re in a rut,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said.

Wednesday’s loss dropped the Dodgers 1 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks, who defeated the Colorado Rockies. The San Francisco Giants pulled to within a half-game of the Dodgers with a victory over the Cardinals.

“The two clubs that we’re involved with in our division, believe me, they are not going to wait around--and we wouldn’t do it either if we were the club playing great baseball,” Tracy said.

The Dodger offense has not even been adequate since the All-Star break. They had only four hits against Lawrence and have scored only 16 runs in the second half. They have scored two runs or fewer in five of their last six games.

Paul Lo Duca had three of the Dodgers’ hits against Lawrence, who struck out seven and pitched the second shutout of his career.

Dodger first baseman Eric Karros batted fourth and was hitless in four at-bats, meaning Dodger cleanup hitters are one for 24 since the All-Star break and five for 44 since July 2.

“They’re struggling a little bit and maybe they’re a little overanxious to get back on the right track,” said Lawrence, who retired the last 11 batters. “Maybe they swung at some bad pitches and helped me out a little bit.”

The Dodgers had hoped that Odalis Perez could help them break through their troubles. The 24-year-old left-hander came within an out of shutout when he beat the Padres, 4-1, on April 21 at Dodger Stadium, a performance that fueled his run to his first All-Star Game selection.

He gave up nine hits in six innings in a 3-2 loss against the Diamondbacks on Friday with the runs coming on two home runs.

Perez was victimized by the homer again Wednesday and lost for the third time in his last four decisions.

Mark Kotsay and Julius Matos led off the third inning with singles and Perez fell behind in the count, 3-and-0, to No. 3 hitter Phil Nevin. The former Cal State Fullerton star received the green light and hammered Perez’s next pitch into the left-field pavilion for his sixth homer and a 3-0 lead.

Perez got through the fourth and fifth unscathed, but gave up a single to Ryan Klesko and a double to Ron Gant to start the sixth.

Perez held the runners on a ground ball by Brian Buchanan and walked No. 7 hitter Deivi Cruz intentionally to load the bases, but Wiki Gonzalez made the Dodgers pay by hitting a fly ball that bounced over the head of left fielder Brian Jordan and into the bleachers for a two-run double.

Terry Mulholland replaced Perez and struck out Lawrence, but Kotsay singled up the middle to drive in two runs and give the Padres a 7-0 lead.

“That was really bad outing,” said Perez (10-6), who gave up nine hits and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings.

Lawrence, meanwhile, was never really challenged, which did not come as a complete surprise to the Dodgers.

On April 14, Lawrence gave up four hits in seven shutout innings in a 1-0 victory at Qualcomm Stadium. Five days later, he gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings of a 5-2 loss at Dodger Stadium.

On Wednesday, Lawrence (8-5) dealt the Dodgers their first shutout since they were blanked, 7-0, by the Angels on June 29.

“Right now, everybody is just sitting back waiting for something to happen,” Jordan said. “We’ve been successful by putting pressure on teams. Right now, we’re not doing that.”