Dodgers Hit a New Low

The last time the Dodgers had a worse stretch was in 1944, when the team was noteworthy for its combustible manager, Leo Durocher, and fiery second baseman, Eddie Stanky.

Not that Brad Penny or Kenny Lofton were aware of the connection, but their dugout spat early in what became a 10-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday probably would have gained the approval of a manager nicknamed “The Lip” and a player nicknamed “The Brat.”

The fourth of six consecutive hits given up by Penny was a hustle double by Dave Roberts that Lofton said he didn’t see well because of the sun’s glare off the seats behind home plate at Dodger Stadium.

Penny apparently interpreted Lofton’s difficulties as a lack of effort because after that four-run third inning he pointed a finger at the center fielder and yelled as he approached the dugout.

Lofton was restrained by coach Mariano Duncan and injured first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, then prepared to bat. He struck out, took a seat on the bench and didn’t take his position the next inning until Penny was about to throw the first pitch.

It wasn’t the first time Penny -- the Dodgers ace whose recent poor performances have mirrored those of his struggling teammates -- has lost his temper on the field. He yelled at Manager Grady Little while on the mound for taking him out of a game at Atlanta in May. Penny apologized two days later.

This time, Little addressed the team after the game and said he hadn’t decided on a course of action.

He left open the option of punishing Penny.

“That was a buildup of frustration that came to a head,” Little said. “Brad is a competitive player who has blown up before and probably will do it again.”

Penny and Lofton both said they discussed the incident and put it behind them.

“It happened in the moment,” Lofton said. “It’s personal and we took care of it. Frustration kicks in, and you don’t think sometimes.”

The Dodgers are 1-13 since the All-Star break, a stretch of futility never before seen by fans in L.A. Since moving from Brooklyn in 1957, they have gone 2-12 on 18 occasions.

It has been 62 years since the Dodgers last performed this poorly. The team included catcher Mickey Owen and outfielder Dixie Walker in addition to Stanky and Durocher and lost 16 in a row.

The current edition trails the Padres by 7 1/2 games in the National League West and has made any talk of fortifying the roster before the trade deadline nearly pointless.

“If you go player by player, we have a great team,” Penny said. “We’ve had winning streaks. We know we can do it. We just have to perform.”

The Dodgers turned five double plays and shortstop Rafael Furcal had three hits, including a home run. Otherwise, the Padres turned in the top performances.

Jake Peavy (5-10) posted his first victory since May 28 by complementing his seven-inning pitching performance with a two-run home run and two-run double. Both hits came against Penny (10-5).

“They were fastballs,” catcher Russell Martin said. “We were trying to get ahead in the count.”

Peavy’s double was the third consecutive hit to begin the third inning and preceded Roberts’ leg double. Lofton has gotten poor jumps on balls at Dodger Stadium and on the road recently, but his complaint about the bright seats isn’t new.

Several Dodgers and opposing players have grumbled about the pastel yellow of the field-level seats, part of an expensive off-season renovation. Two months ago, Houston Astros Manager Phil Garner said, “I shudder to think what it would be like in a day game.”

Factor in an eight-game losing streak, 101-degree temperature and an explosive pitcher, and the result was an embarrassing episode that might even have caused “The Lip” and “The Brat” to blush.

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Nose dive

Comparing the Dodgers before the All-Star break to after:

*--* BEFORE CATEGORY AFTER 46-42 Record 1-13 284 Average 222 357 On-base% 279 432 Slugging% 333 5.35 Runs per game 2.07 9.88 Hits per game 7.71 4.35 ERA 5.41 1.39 WHIP* 1.52 0.97 HR per 9 IP 1.48

*--*

* -- Walks plus hits per inning pitched.

Source: Los Angeles Times