Dodgers End Ruthless Roadtrip With Series Loss Against Diamondbacks

After snapping a season-high eight-game losing streak on Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back to square one. 

During Sunday's rubber match against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers hoped to turn over a new leaf and end their egregious road trip on a high note. But Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez kept Los Angeles in check en route to a 4-2 series win. 

Arizona's starters worked their way around the Dodgers' 1-9 hitters this entire weekend. Over 19.2 innings among Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, and Rodriguez, they gave up only three earned runs. 

Los Angeles sent out Justin Wrobleski in hopes of securing their first series win in August for the Dodgers. In his last two starts, giving up the long ball had been somewhat of a prevalent issue for the southpaw. 

Following his last outing against the Chicago Cubs, in which he gave up seven earned runs on four home runs, Dave Roberts was adamant that they would break down the root cause and keep the ball within the white lines. 

Roberts and Co. found no sort of tipping issue and felt the need was to improve pitch execution. 

Wrobleski continued his struggling streak of games on Sunday, giving up four earned runs on six hits through 3.1 innings. Two of the four runs came from a Ketel Marte two-run shot in the Diamondbacks' bottom half of the first. 

"I’m just not good enough right now," Wrobleski said on his recent outings via SportsNetLA. "It’s kind of what it comes down to; it’s really frustrating. Execution just hasn’t been this good. I felt like today wasn’t just good enough."

Again, Roberts had to squeeze the bullpen for a lengthy day without the likes of Tanner Scott or Edwin Diaz, as they had previously pitched the last two days. 

Despite that, the bullpen tossed four perfect innings (last time they did that was in the Tokyo Series last year against the Cubs) and gave the offense every opportunity for a comeback. 

The Dodgers' offense could not capitalize on the zeros being put up on the other side of the ball, mustering only six hits and scoring two runs in their Sunday loss. Altogether, they managed to score just seven runs during the three-game series and have scored 29 runs across their last 81 innings. 

With the loss, the Dodgers drop to 70-48 on the season and cap off their six-game road trip with a 1-5 record. 

Still, Freddie Freeman believes that the Dodgers recent skid can construe a cause of panic. 

“There is no concern, we’re a good team," Freeman said via SportsNetLA. 

Roberts was also confident there's no cause of concern. 

“I don’t think there’s concern. We still got a pretty good ball club; there’s certainly not panic. I think for us, It’s just finding a way to win a game consistently; That’s the focus, versus what type of emotions you’re feeling. That’s just not helpful anywhere, regardless." 

Los Angeles has dropped eight of their last nine contests, but look to bounce back, as they head home on Monday to host the scuffling Kansas City Royals and kick off a seven-game home stand.