Padres-Dodgers: Manny Ramirez Lifts Dodgers Past San Diego

It hasn't been the lack of pitching that has kept the San Diego Padres from winning any of the three games played against the Los Angeles Dodgers, it's been the same old story that has been talked about over and over again for the past few years.

Although the Padres are a notoriously slow starting team, the way they've started the 2009 season isn't anything that surprises San Diego fans. 

In game one, Jake Peavy allows four runs (three earned) and gets only one run in support which was scored in the very first inning. 

In game two, Padres' starter Chris Young had given up just two runs but had only received one in support until third baseman Chase Headley lined a two-run double to left in the sixth to put the team ahead.

Then, last night, new Padre Walter Silva went five strong innings but ended with a no decision as the right-hander left the game tied at two, his offense mustering just three hits.

The turning point to last night, however, was the decision making of Padres' manager Bud Black. With two on in the seventh inning, and Manny Ramirez coming up, Black walked out to the mound to visit with reliever Edward Mujica and motioned to what look like the Padres' bullpen, so out trotted right-hander Cla Meredith.

Just before Meredith reached second base, he was told to return to the bullpen.

That decision eventually led to the Padres demise as Ramirez would lace a two-run double to Petco Park's spacious right-center field, putting the Dodgers ahead for an eventual 5-2 win.

What the San Diego Padres lack is that voice in the club house, that voice that's going to speak up and get this team fired up, that voice that is going to get some consistency from this offense.

This team needs their front five to be leaders, they need these guys to lead the charge each and every game. They can't have games like last night where the front five of the Padres' lineup goes 2-for-18 including hitless performances from Jody Gerut, David Eckstein and Kevin Kouzmanoff, three guys that this team needs to lead the charge. 

What's more surprising is first baseman Adrian Gonzalez still looking for his first RBI of the 2009 season.

The Padres will try to turn that around tonight as they conclude this four game series against the Dodgers at Petco Park. The Padres will have newcomer, and former San Francisco Giants right-hander, Kevin Correia while the Dodgers will counter with 21-year old right-hander Clayton Kershaw.