The Dodgers on Thursday finally scored, ending a horrific streak that saw them go 33 consecutive innings without a run. It was tied for the fifth longest streak of futility in franchise history.

Despite the offensive outburst of two whole runs on Thursday, the Dodgers were unable to get a win as the Mets won 3-2 in the opener of a four-game weekend series, handing the Dodgers their fifth straight loss.

"It felt good to score a couple of runs to be honest with you," said manager Don Mattingly after the game. "We didn't do enough to win the game, but at least it was a game you felt like you were in all day until the end."

Chris Capuano, the only man to win for the Dodgers in the last 10 days, got hung with the loss on Thursday, but pitched another good game, allowing three runs in seven innings and not issuing a walk. He had an upbeat attitude after the game.

"As bad as this stretch has been, and it's been pretty horrific, our record is still very respectable and we're still right there. The race has just begun for us," Capuano said.

The race is the National League West, which finds the Dodgers no longer at the head of the pack. The Giants won their fourth straight game on Thursday and now own a one-game lead over the Dodgers. But Mattingly is less worried about San Francisco and more focused on his own club.

"We can't really be concerned about anybody else, when you're going through a rut," Mattingly said. "We have to take care of ourselves, get ready to play."

The Dodgers have scored just 17 runs in their last 11 games, including eight games during that span with two runs or less. The team is scoring just 3.19 runs per game in June, hitting .219/.293/.295 in 26 games.

They have to somehow find a way to keep their head above water in the next 10 days, as they have three more games with the Mets (41-36), three more with the Cincinnati Reds (41-34), followed by four games in Arizona against the Diamondbacks (38-37) to head into the All-Star break.

By then, Matt Kemp will likely be back or very close to returning, Andre Ethier should be at full strength, and Mark Ellis will likely be back as well, putting the Dodgers at nearly full strength.

"We did a great job early buying ourselves some time to work through a period like this. I look at the standings and I'm pretty happy right now," said an optimistic Capuano. "The All-Star break is looming, and we want to run through that finish line."

Up Next

The Dodgers on Friday night have to face 11-game winner R.A. Dickey and his baffling knuckleball, a pitch he referred to as "a butterfly on steroids." Aaron Harang gets the call for the Dodgers in the second game of the four-game series.