PHOENIX — So much for that.
A day after the Dodgers snapped their season-worst seven-game losing streak, they picked up another “L” on Sunday, losing 4-2 to the Diamondbacks.
Manager Dave Roberts challenged his hitters to play up to their talent level, but what he got was more of the same, as LA was kept in check by Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez.
The Dodgers were limited to two runs and five hits over seven innings by Rodriguez, and they finished the game with six hits.
The two-time defending World Series champions scored seven runs in their three games in Arizona. They have averaged five runs per game, but that number has dropped to 3.2 over their last nine contests.
“I think this series it was very clear that we weren’t hitting the fastball, and we were exposing ourselves to the changeup with the secondary specifically,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers will start a couple of two-time Cy Young Award winners in Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell over the next two days when they host the Royals, but the quality of their pitching won’t matter if they continue hitting like this.
“Are the Royals going to exploit the fastball that we’re not hitting and the changeup below?” Roberts said. “I don’t know. But we have to make adjustments. I think, for me, that’s sort of what I see as a group — we’re just not making adjustments.”
Justin Wrobleski put the Dodgers in a 4-0 hole after two innings, but the bullpen kept them in the game. With the team down by two runs, Andy Pages led off the eighth inning with a single, only for Freddie Freeman to ground into a double play.
The Dodgers have grounded into 99 double plays this season, the most in the majors.
“It’s baseball, ups and downs,” Freeman said. “We’re just going through it. No one’s worried here.”
Roberts shared his sentiments.
“We’ve still got a really good ballclub,” Roberts said. “There’s certainly [no] panic.”
That doesn’t mean there isn’t urgency.
Following his team’s 2-1, 10-inning win Saturday, Roberts demanded more offensive production.
“I think it’s hard to win when your margin for winning is a razor’s edge,” he said. “It’s not like guys aren’t trying, but it’s a tough way to pitch when you have to be perfect.
“We’re just better than this. As we always say, it’s not a try league. We gotta get it done.”
