Dem Bums – A Dodgers Blog

The Dodgers took a rough 1-11 loss to lose the series on Monday, and with the Rockies off, they will have to wait at least one more day before they clinch the NL West.

Hiroki Kuroda was rocked for seven runs, though only three were earned. Mark Loretta got a throwing error leading off the second inning, which would turn into a five-run Pirates rally. Kuroda was then lifted after four, but not before giving up a solo shot to Andy LaRoche, who had 6 RBIs for the Pirates today. Mota and James McDonald then each gave up two runs in late innings, including another two-run shot by LaRoche off of McDonald in the eighth.

Zach Duke held the Dodgers to four hits, with the only run being a sacrifice fly by Chin-lung Hu in the ninth to score Orlando Hudson and to avoid the shutout.

The Dodgers head back to the west coast to take on the Padres, and hopefully will clinch the West with either a win tomorrow or a Rockies’ loss. Chad Billingsley will make the start Tuesday and face Cesar Ramos.