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Dodgers still searching for offense

Aug 2, 2008 - 10:25 AM Arizona (57-52) at LA Dodgers (54-55) 10:10 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Despite the addition of Manny Ramirez, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still struggling to score runs.

The Dodgers continue their search for offense on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ramirez, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox on Thursday in a three-team deal, had a pair of singles but grounded into a double play in the ninth inning during Los Angeles' 2-1 setback on Friday.

The 36-year-old slugger posted a .299 batting average with 20 home runs and 68 RBI with the Red Sox and is expected to bolster a team that ranks in the bottom five in the majors in runs, home runs and slugging percentage.

However, Ramirez and his teammates were stymied for the second straight game by the Diamondbacks, who stretched their lead in the National League West to three games over the Dodgers with their second consecutive 2-1 victory on Friday.

Ramirez and Los Angeles hope for a better performance when they face Yusmeiro Petit (1-1, 2.55 ERA), who will come out of the bullpen to take Micah Owings' spot in the Arizona rotation after the righthander was sent to the minors on Friday.

Petit is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts, giving up one run and three hits in five innings en route to a 9-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in his most recent start on July 22.

Hiroki Kuroda (5-8, 4.40) has lost each of his last two starts and tries to earn his first win since July 7 for the Dodgers.