Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers struggled to get anything going offensively in Monday’s 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, but it wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities.
The club, who entered play hitting .256 with runners in scoring position, went just 1-for-8 and most notably squandered a bases loaded, no-out scenario in the fourth. “Certainly,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when asked if he characterized the loss as a missed chance.
“Especially the performance that Dustin gave us tonight. There were opportunities in a couple innings with bases loaded and nobody out; put up one and then we didn’t get any across. Those are situations you’ve got to put up a crooked number.
“But I like the way we’re taking good at-bats, getting on base, but we’ve still got to get that hit. Dustin pitched his tail off tonight. It’s unfortunate we didn’t come away with a win.”
As Roberts noted, Dustin May kept the Dodgers in the game with a second consecutive quality start. He limited the Padres to just two runs and five hits over six innings of work, striking out two on a season-high 83 pitches.
The loss dropped the Dodgers to 11-6 on the year, but they remain separated by only half a game with the first-place Colorado Rockies (11-5) in the National League West. “It’s still young in the season but we’re winning more than we’re losing, we’re still adjusting to life that’s a new normal, but our guys are still playing good baseball,” Roberts said.
“We’re pitching, we’re playing good defense.”
While the Dodgers’ lineup was kept in check Monday night, it’s still a formidable group that includes two former MVP winners, multiple All-Stars and plenty of firepower.
The team ranks second in the Majors in runs (88) and home runs (29), third in FanGraphs’ WAR (3.1), and seventh in wRC+ (111). “I really haven’t kept in touch with teams outside of us or teams we’ve played, but we’re homering,” Roberts noted.
“I think that overall, runs per game, we’re one of the leaders in baseball and National League specifically. But yeah, when you get opportunities that you need a ground ball or fly ball, we’ve got to cash in. I still like the intent behind what we’re doing.”
Roberts: Dodgers have not yet ‘clicked on all cylinders’
For all the early-season success the Dodgers have enjoyed, Roberts doesn’t yet believe the team has reached its full potential. “To be quite honest, I don’t think we’ve really clicked on all cylinders,” he recently said.
“I think we’re catching the baseball, the bullpen has been really good, (but) the offense hasn’t really gotten untracked, which I know we will. We’re finally hitting our stride.”
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