The Dodgers’ offensive struggles continued Friday against the Rangers, as they mustered only eight hits in a 6-0 shutout loss. Texas starter Vicente Padilla wasn’t brilliant but got the job done, allowing four hits and three walks spread out through his five innings pitched.

Hiroki Kuroda took the loss — his second of the season — after going five and a third and being charged with five runs. Brent Leach retired the only batter he faced after relieving Kuroda, but Guillermo Mota allowed two inherited runners to score. Travis Schlicting finished up in relief and was penalized by an Orlando Hudson error, allowing an unearned run to score.

Perhaps the biggest moment in the game for the Dodgers came in the fifth inning, when, down only two runs with runners on third and second and one out, Andre Ethier smashed a ball down the first-base line. At first it looked to be a two-run single, then an RBI groundout, but Texas first baseman Chris Davis made a great play to catch the liner. Casey Blake struck out to end the inning, and the Dodgers didn’t seriously threaten to score again until the ninth when the game was a bit out of reach.

In a battle of first-place teams, the Rangers move to 35-25 while the Dodgers are now 40-22. Tomorrow’s game features LA lefty Randy Wolf opposing Texas righty Scott Feldman. Feldman has only one loss in nine starts this season.