Dodgers Still Dealing With Losing Streak

Their losing streak was long -- fallen-tree, 45-foot-RV long.

Their spirits were low -- dugout-floor, limbo-bar low.

The Dodgers’ response? Trade an underachieving malcontent and hold one-on-one meetings with the manager. Two steps forward.

Then roll out an uninspired lineup of mostly reserves and fall to the San Diego Padres, 7-3, Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, extending their losing streak to seven.

Another step back.

Absent was first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, who could be sidelined for a week because of an injury to his right knee suffered when he awkwardly covered second base on the bloop hit that scored the Padres’ winning run in the 11th inning a night earlier.

Missing was right fielder J.D. Drew, given time off to locate the power stroke that has been missing for two months. He singled as a pinch-hitter in the sixth but lumbering reserve catcher Toby Hall was thrown out at the plate.

Omitted was catcher Russell Martin, one of the few players who has hit well lately. He needed a breather before today’s noon game and did nothing but pinch-hit, grounding out to end the game.

Gone for good was pitcher Odalis Perez. The disgruntled left-hander was summoned from the darkest corner of the Dodgers doghouse and sent to the Kansas City Royals along with two minor league pitchers and more than $12 million for retread reliever Elmer Dessens.

Unloading Perez buoyed the Dodgers and Manager Grady Little’s meetings with Jeff Kent and Martin fortified them, but the game merely underscored their recent failings.

“It’s not pretty to watch,” Little said. “That win is hard for us to get right now.”

The loss was the Dodgers’ 12th in 13 games since the All-Star break. They are in last place, 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Padres in the National League West.

And they probably won’t make a trade before the non-waiver deadline Monday that would reverse their fortunes. The Dodgers won’t dip into their supply of talented young players unless they get a quality veteran in return.

“It’s a matter of who is available,” General Manager Ned Colletti said. “Difference-making players available are very, very few. And requests coming back are for multiple players you’ve seen play at Dodger Stadium.

“I’m not yet to the point of sacrificing two or three young players -- in L.A. or [triple-A Las Vegas] -- for what is a two-month rental.”

Available starting pitchers include Livan Hernandez, Paul Byrd, Jon Lieber and Greg Maddux. The Dodgers have interest only in Maddux, but the cost has been too high.

As for proven power hitters, Alfonso Soriano and Pat Burrell are too pricey and Carlos Lee is not yet available.

“I’m not of a mind to sacrifice what could be a good team in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for a chance in 2006,” Colletti said.

Pitchers acquired in trades this year did most of the work against the Padres. Mark Hendrickson (0-4) is still seeking his first Dodgers victory after giving up four runs in six innings.

Dessens sailed through the seventh and eighth and Danys Baez gave up two runs in the ninth. It wasn’t nearly good enough because the Dodgers offense could muster only Kenny Lofton’s first homer in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and sixth despite collecting 10 hits.

Little told the players not to dress until 11:10 today, one hour before the game. Maybe less will be more.

“It’s hard, definitely hard to take,” third baseman Cesar Izturis said. “We’ll go day by day and see what happens.”