Dodgers go meagerly against Rockies, 3-0

Reporting from Denver — More than 100 major league players have hit at least as many home runs as the entire Dodgers team: one.

The Dodgers didn’t look like an offensive machine on paper and they haven’t looked like one in the flesh. They have been shut out twice in five games, most recently in a 3-0 defeat to the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field on Tuesday night.

Clayton Kershaw pitched well, but not well enough, making a few mistakes that created an obstacle far too great for the Dodgers’ lineup to overcome.

Frank McCourt’s representatives call on commissioner’s office

The Dodgers (3-2) have scored 13 runs in five games and are batting .233.

Predictably, rookie Manager Don Mattingly and the players said they weren’t concerned.

“It’s game No. 5,” Tony Gwynn Jr. said.

Hitting coach Jeff Pentland noted the quality of pitching they have faced.

They were held to a combined six runs in the three games against the San Francisco Giants that were started by Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain. In the game pitched by the more hittable Barry Zito, they scored seven runs.

Their tormentor Tuesday was Jhoulys Chacin, who posted a 3.28 earned-run average last season. Chacin (1-0) held the Dodgers to five hits over seven innings.

“I don’t think we were up there hacking wild,” Mattingly said. “That guy pitched good against us.”

The Dodgers had only three men in scoring position.

Still, Mattingly said, “I felt like we were going to score.”

Giants fan sent text message saying he was ‘scared’ before beating

With two outs and Gwynn on second base in the third inning, Chacin intentionally walked Andre Ethier to face Matt Kemp. Chacin got Kemp to fly out to center field.

The Dodgers’ best scoring chance probably came in the fifth inning, which Jamey Carroll led off with a single. Carroll advanced to second base on a bunt by Kershaw, but Rafael Furcal and Gwynn grounded out to end the inning.

The Rockies went ahead, 1-0, on a home run by Troy Tulowitzki in the fifth inning. They doubled their advantage in the next inning on a home run by Chris Iannetta.

Jose Lopez put the game out of reach with a run-scoring single in the sixth inning.

Kershaw was typical Kershaw when speaking after the game, blaming himself for the defeat.

“If I did my job, we’d still be playing,” he said.

Kershaw (1-1) was charged with three runs and six hits over six innings. He struck out eight, raising his season total to 17 in 13 innings. The only walk he has issued, to Tulowitzki, was unintentional.

From various parts of the clubhouse, there were promises that the offense would improve.

Mattingly: “We’re going to score runs.”

Gwynn: “I think the way we pitch, we don’t have to score that many runs, but I think this offense is capable of putting up four or five a game.”

Kemp: “We’ve got an offense that can score runs. We’re going to get it together.”

Pentland: “My particular ceiling is higher than where we’re at.”

L.A. Times Dodgers blog

Pentland went on to say that the Dodgers have yet to discover their “identity as an offensive ballclub.”

“I think there’s still some newness to the lineup,” Pentland said.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com