scuffled
v.— «The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers scuffled through the first half of the season. Manager Tom Lasorda said he is growing weary of hearing about how hard his players are trying.» —“Randolph Says Guidry Survived on Heart Alone” by Steve Pivovar Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska) July 16, 1989. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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