No Kershaw, No Matter With No Runs For Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw was supposed to pitch for the Dodgers on Sunday night, but he did not. Out with a hip injury, the Dodgers turned to Joe Blanton, but it didn't really matter as the offense was a no-show in a 4-0 loss to the Giants.

The Dodgers scored five runs in their three-game weekend series, and have scored three runs or less in each of their last five games, and in eight of their last 10 contests.

The Dodgers had two cortisone shots over the weekend, with both Matt Kemp and Kershaw taking the needle. They had one hit with runners in scoring position, in 22 at-bats.

Can't win if you can't score, or something like that.

At least we got to see the major league debut of Paco Rodriguez, the first 2012 MLB draftee to hit the majors. Rodriguez needed just three pitches to retire Brandon Belt, the only batter he faced.

Up Next

The Dodgers are off Monday, the first of three consecutive Mondays off. They start a two-game series in Phoenix on Tuesday, and have hopes of Kershaw starting the opener against the Diamondbacks. We'll see.

Sunday's Particulars

Home Runs: Buster Posey (20)

WP - Barry Zito (9-13): 6 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

LP - Joe Blanton (11-8): 5 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts