Dodgers offense wakes up too late as losing streak reaches four games

ST.LOUIS — Roki Sasaki might’ve finally turned a corner from his recent struggles Saturday night.Too bad the Dodgers’ offense took too long to do the same.Despite a season-best six-inning, three-run start from Sasaki, the Dodgers remained mired in their recently maddening slump during a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. In their latest sign of futility, they endured eight shutout innings that included as many hits as double-plays (four each).

Then, despite some good batted-ball luck that keyed a last-gasp, two-run rally in the ninth, they fittingly ended the game by stranding the tying and go-ahead runners on base.“Just comes down to, we didn’t score enough tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said.Indeed, Saturday followed what has become an uncomfortably common script for the Dodgers (20-13) in recent days.They couldn’t generate power, failing to hit a home run for a fifth-straight game (the longest drought for the club since 2015).

They couldn’t take advantage of situational opportunities, either, going hitless with runners in scoring position until their short-lived comeback attempt in the top of the ninth.That inning was keyed by three two-out singles that all deflected off the glove of a Cardinals fielder.Andy Pages then snuck a seeing-eye grounder through the infield to cut the deficit to one.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Alas, Dalton Rushing struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the game, and send the Dodgers to a fourth-straight defeat.They still somehow finished with six runners left on base, even when accounting for all the double-plays they hit into.In the first inning, Will Smith became the first victim on an inning-ending grounder that was turned by shortstop Masyn Winn.

In the third, Alex Freeland got doubled of...