Dodger Losing Streak at Eight With 2-1 Loss

Need more evidence that the loss of outfielder Milton Bradley has devastated the Dodgers more than the absence of Eric Gagne, Odalis Perez, Wilson Alvarez and any other sore-armed pitcher this side of Sandy Koufax?

Submitted as proof: the string of zeroes on the Petco Park scoreboard Tuesday night.

Oh, sure, the Dodgers scored one measly run on a broken-bat single by pinch-hitter Jason Grabowski in the seventh inning of a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres in front of an announced 35,135.

But a cause for celebration it wasn’t, even though the run ended a 19-inning scoreless streak.

“Our lack of offense is hurting us, it’s that simple,” Manager Jim Tracy said.

Still alive is the Dodger losing streak, now at eight, coinciding with the start of a 13-game trip. They are 6 1/2 games behind the Padres in the NL West.

The Dodgers took early batting practice to shake the slump. Even General Manager Paul DePodesta got into the act, shagging balls along with several young sons of Dodger coaches.

But still missing was Bradley, who has been on the disabled list since May 30 because of a torn ligament in the ring finger of his right hand.

In 49 games with Bradley, the Dodgers scored an average of 4.9 runs a game, according to Baseball Prospectus. In 21 games without him, they have averaged 3.5 runs.

The Padres needed only two runs, and both were driven in on one swing by catcher Robert Fick, who practically begged the Dodgers to sign him to a minor league contract during the off-season. The Padres did instead, and one night after scoring the game’s only run in a 1-0 victory, he delivered a bases-loaded single to drive in Khalil Greene and Damian Jackson in the fourth inning against Derek Lowe.

“I threw a cutter and tried to get it inside, but obviously it turned into the big hit of the game,” Lowe said.

Fick is batting .365 and has moved into a starting catching role for the first time since 2001. In three games behind the plate, the Padres are 3-0 and the opposition has scored three earned runs. Of course, two of those games have been against the anemic Dodgers (33-37).

Fick’s only mistake came in the ninth when a swing by Olmedo Saenz ticked his glove, resulting in catcher’s interference. Padre closer Trevor Hoffman walked Jayson Werth to put runners on first and second, but the Dodger inability to execute the fundamentals stung them again.

Antonio Perez bunted too hard back to Hoffman, who threw out Saenz at third. Then Jason Phillips hit a fly ball toward the right-field line and Werth didn’t tag up at second. Hoffman struck out pinch-hitter Hee-Seop Choi for his 19th save.

“I feel bad because the pitchers threw a good ballgame and we couldn’t support them,” Phillips said.

The Dodgers stranded four runners in the first three innings, then went quietly until consecutive hits by Perez, Phillips and Grabowski produced the run in the seventh.

The Padres (40-31) had their own problems hitting in the clutch, leaving 13 runners. Lowe (5-8) pitched out of several jams but like several other Dodger starters recently was the victim of non-support.

“You try to go out there and pitch your game regardless,” Lowe said. “I’m almost at a loss for words.”

So was Tracy. “It’s the same story,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot else I can say.”