Dodgers Go Long, Fall Short

The slipping and sliding Dodgers hit bottom Monday night, landing in last place in the National League West.

But at least they didn’t go quietly, or easily, or quickly.

When you’ve lost 12 of 13 games as the Dodgers have, hampered by an anemic offense that had scored only 17 runs in its previous dozen games, you take your victories where you can find them, even if they are only of the moral variety.

The Dodgers, sparked by two home runs and four hits by rookie Andre Ethier, rallied from a three-run deficit before losing to the San Diego Padres, 7-6, in 11 innings at Dodger Stadium.

The winning run, surrendered by Giovanni Carrara (0-1), was driven in by Josh Bard, who singled in Josh Barfield. Barfield had gotten aboard when his pop fly fell in behind second base.

Doug Brocail (1-0) got the victory with Trevor Hoffman recording his 27th save.

“In spells like we are in now, these wins are tough to get,” Manager Grady Little said. “The biggest thing is, we scored six runs. We hadn’t score that many [combined] in our last week.”

While Little was pleased with Ethier’s performance and that of fellow rookie Russell Martin (two for four, two runs batted in), he didn’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

“It’s going to be a total team effort to get this thing going,” Little said. “It will take more than one or two guys.”

In their devastating slump, the Dodgers have lost games with their bats and occasionally their arms.

At the start of the game, it seemed they had chosen a new avenue to defeat: A leaky glove.

The Padres’ leadoff batter, Dave Roberts, hit a soft bouncer to second where Willy Aybar dropped it, reached between his legs to pick it up and fumbled it again, allowing Roberts to reach first base.

Starter Derek Lowe handed Roberts another gift, committing a balk to send the Padres’ runner to second base. Running on a grounder to the mound, Roberts made it to third. He scored on a single to right-center field by Brian Giles.

At least it was an unearned run. Lowe, who had lost four of his previous five decisions, have given up 27 runs -- all earned -- in his previous 24 innings.

Lowe gave up another unearned in the third inning thanks to his error. Roberts, again leading off, hit a scorching liner that ricocheted off Lowe’s bottom side. Unhurt, the pitcher picked up the ball but threw it past first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, allowing Roberts to reach second. From there, the Padres’ left fielder stole third and scored on a groundout by Giles.

Ethier, who had hit his seventh home run into the right-centerfield seats leading off the second inning, put the Dodgers in front in the third with a two-run shot on a 1-and-0 fastball from starter Chris Young, the ball landing deep in the left-field bleachers.

The Padres tied the score in the sixth inning on yet another tainted run. Mike Cameron led off with a high fly ball to right field that sailed over the glove of J.D. Drew, who appeared to have room to make the catch. With one out, Mike Pizza singled in Cameron.

The way the Dodgers have been struggling, they have seemed resigned to giving up the big hit, the question being not if, but when.

Monday night, the answer to that question appeared to come in the seventh inning.

With two Padres on base, two out and Cameron coming to bat, Little removed Lowe and summoned right-hander Jonathan Broxton.

With a 1-and-2 count, Broxton tried to fool Cameron with a changeup.

No chance.

Cameron blasted his 14th home run, deep into the left-field bleachers, and it was 6-3 San Diego. Lowe was charged with five of the runs.

A three-run deficit seemed insurmountable for a team that had struggled so much since the All-Star break. But the Dodgers bats’ came alive in a three-run eighth. With a man aboard and two out, Ethier lined a single into right-center field to put runners at the corners.

And then, the Dodgers got some good fortune mixed in with their rediscovered hitting prowess.

Martin hit a fly ball to deep right field that Terrmel Sledge dropped, allowing two runners to score. Martin was credited with a double and two runs batted in.

Pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee followed with a run-scoring single to left field on a sinking fly ball and it was 6-6.