Frustration pervades Dodgers clubhouse
Team has lost three straight and four of its last five
LOS ANGELES -- The word of the night around the Dodgers' clubhouse is frustration.
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A change in scenery didn't change the result for the Dodgers, as the club endured a 5-3 loss, its third straight to the Rangers, on Wednesday night. Los Angeles has lost four of its last five by a combined seven runs, including a walk-off home run by Robinson Chirinos on Tuesday.
"Just a lot of frustration built up for sure," starter Clayton Kershaw said. "They're all close games we just haven't come out in the end. They just feel like they're games that we could've or should've won."
Kershaw (5-4) was inconsistent on the mound: he recorded 10 strikeouts -- his third straight start with double-digit whiffs -- but gave up four runs.
Video: TEX@LAD: Kershaw fans 10 Rangers over six innings
He allowed opposing pitcher Wandy Rodriguez to reach on a single.Then, after striking out back-to-back hitters, Kershaw hung a slider that Joey Gallo turned into a moonshot to the right field bleachers. After the inning, Kershaw was seen visibly upset and slammed his glove in frustration.
"This was probably the most frustrating game I've ever pitched," Kershaw said. "All things considered, this is the most frustrated I've been in a long time."
The following inning, Kershaw struck out Adam Rosales, only to have him reach base as catcher A.J. Ellis couldn't find the ball in the dirt. Kershaw then balked, allowing Rosales to advance, and a single by Rougned Odor brought home an unearned run.
"He seemed frustrated at times out there. I think he's a picture of us right now, as far as the frustration," manager Don Mattingly said. "We're not playing the way that we're capable of and things aren't going the way we want them to."
The Dodgers' offense didn't help matters either. The team finished 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Early in the game, the Dodgers missed multiple chances to get runs on the board. Leadoff doubles from Yasiel Puig and Scott Van Slyke were left on base in the first and third innings, respectively, and the Dodgers ended five innings stranding a runner in scoring position.
"It's a picture of where we're at right now," Mattingly said. "Yasiel hits a double, Slyke hits a double and we don't do anything with it. I think that's part of the frustration right now."
Even in a three-run sixth inning that slashed the lead to 4-3, the Dodgers had runners on first and second for pinch-hitter Joc Pederson and Adrian Gonzalez. Pederson struck out and Gonzalez grounded out and the Dodgers wouldn't get the go-ahead run on base for the rest of the game.
"It's really frustrating to lose games you should've won," Ellis said. "It's one thing when you can tip your cap to the other team and say that they beat you, and not to take anything away from the Rangers and the way they've played this series, but we haven't played Dodger baseball at all."