Dodgers rediscover lost power source in 6-2 victory

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The bats were suddenly wimpy, the long ball reduced to something that actually made it out of the infield.

A team that had been among the league leaders in home runs saw its power game grow mute.

It was no coincidence that during the Dodgers’ five-game losing streak, they had hit exactly one home run.

And it was no coincidence that their losing skid ended Friday night when they hit a pair of home runs in a 6-2 victory over the Pirates.

Andre Ethier, who last hit a home run on April 22, started the Dodgers offense off with a two-run homer in the first.

James Loney, who last hit a home run on Sept. 19, 2009, added a three-run homer in the third.

And all was well with the Dodgers offense, for a night.

Of course, it came against right-hander Charlie Morton, possibly the worst starter in baseball (0-5, 12.57 ERA), but the way things had been going for the Dodgers, they wouldn’t have cared if it came against Betty White.

Loney’s home run was a line drive that just cleared the rail near the 330-foot sign -- the shortest part of the ballpark. Looked, as they say, like 450 feet in the box score.

For Ethier, it was his sixth of the season.

Still, it’s not like the Dodgers were spraying balls all over the field. They managed only six hits against Morton. In fact, that was probably his best outing of the season.

With a shaky rotation, the Dodgers are going to need a consistent offensive threat to turn their disappointing start around.

That and a reliable defense. And there was even good news on that front. Friday marked the first time all season the Dodgers managed to go three consecutive games without committing an error.
-- Steve Dilbeck