Dodger Problems Continue on Field Too

On a day when a longtime member of their family was lost, and Manager Bill Russell and executive vice president Fred Claire were later fired, the Dodgers also lost to the Colorado Rockies, 11-6, before 48,186 at Coors Field.

Before the game, the Dodgers learned that Al Campanis, former general manager, died Sunday in his sleep. Campanis, 81, was chiefly responsible for building the franchise’s championship teams in the 1970s and early ‘80s, and news of his death added to the team’s distressing season.

When the Dodgers returned home Sunday night, team officials huddled late at Dodger Stadium to discuss several topics and evaluate the performance of Russell and Claire.

The Dodgers face the Angels tonight at Edison Field under new Manager Glenn Hoffman, with former manager Tom Lasorda as interim general manager.

In an interview Tuesday, team President Bob Graziano said, “We believe the team can and should be playing better,” and confirmed that Russell was being evaluated. Sources within the organization have said recently that support for Russell had dwindled.

After opening the series with the Rockies with consecutive victories, the Dodgers lost the last two games to drop two games under .500 at 36-38.

Things began well for the Dodgers in the game Sunday, but quickly turned.

Starter Chan Ho Park (5-5) squandered a 3-0 lead in the first inning--fashioned on the third of Eric Karros’ four home runs in the series--and was charged with 10 runs in only 5 1/3 innings. Reliever Greg McMichael gave up a three-run home run to Dante Bichette in the Rockies’ six-run sixth that broke the game open.

After batting around only once since May 8, the Rockies sent 10 batters to the plate in the second and sixth innings. Bobby Jones (2-2), who has been in Colorado’s starting rotation less than a month, pitched his first complete game in the major leagues.