LA Dodgers fall in a rut of consecutive defeats in critical time
The Dodgers remain two games ahead in the division, but with an ineffective offense
The Los Angeles Dodgers are not going through a good moment after accumulating four consecutive defeats and six in the last seven games.
The Los Angeles team fell this Friday 2-1 to the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the series, adding their fourth consecutive defeat.
Tanner Scott received a home run from rookie Samuel Basallo in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Dodgers' offense was only able to muster one run, which came on Freddie Freeman's tying home run in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers stranded eight runners on base and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, including leaving the bases loaded in one inning.
Scott, meanwhile, blew his ninth save opportunity of the season and still hasn't shown the necessary strength to be the Dodgers' closer.
Scott is 1-3 with a 4.56 ERA, 52 strikeouts, and 20 saves in 51 appearances this season.
In addition to the offensive loss, the Dodgers lost Daulton Rushing after he was hit by a pitch near his knee. Will Smith is also out of the lineup for a few days after being hit by a pitch to his legs.
Dodgers remain first after San Diego’s crisis
Despite the losing streak, the Dodgers remain two games ahead of San Diego in the NL West.
The Padres also have four straight losses after being swept at home by the Baltimore Orioles.
This Friday they were blanked 3-0 by the Colorado Rockies, the worst team in all of Major League Baseball.
Although the distance has remained in the division between these two teams, the San Francisco Giants have gotten closer.
San Francisco is six games behind the Dodgers and just four behind the Padres, the team that occupies the last Wild Card spot in the NL.
The San Diego Padres have the same record as the New York Mets (79-65), teams that occupy two of the three National League wild-card spots.

