Let's put it this way:
When two of your starters are (yikes!) each batting .152 (Cody Ransom and Collin Cowgill), your centerfielder (Chris Young) has dipped to .232 after a promising start to his season, and no one remotely could be called hot with the stick, you're probably not going to win a lot of games.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have found themselves in a deep late August funk, as their road trip from hell continues in our nation's capital against the Nationals.
The boys lost their sixth in a row last night, a 4-1 defeat that allowed the idle Giants to move within one game of the lead in the National League West.
It was another woeful offensive performance by Arizona, whose only scoring came on a late solo shot by veteran back-up catcher Henry Blanco.
Lefty Joe Saunders threw adequately, with the most devastating blow against him a three-run homer by Jayson Werth in the fourth inning.
One had the feeling during the game that the 4-0 Washington lead midway through the game was insurmountable for the D-Backs under the current circumstances, and it was.
But baseball is an odd game in that this particular low point in the 162-game season could be yesterday's news if Arizona pulls it together and takes this series before mercifully heading back to Chase Field on Friday night to play San Diego.
On the other hand....
Tonight's game starts at 4:05, with television coverage on Channel 34 and radio on KTAR at 620 on your AM dial.
