It’s Time to Fade to Brown for the Dodgers

Kevin Brown thought he made the play in time and TV replays seemed to support the Dodger pitcher.

Umpire Bob Davidson disagreed--and that’s all that mattered.

Davidson’s controversial call in the seventh inning Monday night added to the Dodgers’ misery in an 8-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

With two out, a run already in and the Rockies leading, 4-2, the first base umpire ruled that Darryl Hamilton beat Brown to the bag, prolonging the inning. The Rockies chased Brown and scored four more runs to break the game open before a crowd of 40,063 at Coors Field.

“Brown thought he beat him [Hamilton] to the bag and Davidson obviously didn’t think so,” said first baseman Eric Karros, who fielded Hamilton’s grounder and tossed to Brown. “That allowed them an extra out and they were able to capitalize.”

Brown (9-6) lost for the second time in as many starts. Colorado starter Darryl Kile (5-6) gave up only two runs in seven strong innings in the homer-friendly ballpark.

The Dodgers (35-45) lost for the 21st time in their last 30 games. For the second time in three days, they dropped 10 games under .500 and 10 1/2 games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

The fourth-place Rockies (37-43) have also been among the most disappointing teams in the major leagues. They have won only four of their last 15 games.

But the Dodgers have been worse, helping the Rockies avoid the West basement.

The Dodgers on Monday committed many of the same mistakes that have plagued them throughout the season, failing to hit consistently with runners in scoring position and generally continuing to look like an $80-million lemon. They wasted home runs by Todd Hundley and Adrian Beltre.

At least Dodger Manager Davey Johnson didn’t have to stick around until the end.

Davidson ejected Johnson in the seventh for arguing the call at first.

“He was out,” said Johnson, who was ejected for the second time this season. “I told him [Davidson] I saw Brownie touch the bag from where I was at [in the visitors’ dugout on the opposite side of the field].

“He started to call him out and then he got a ‘brain cramp’ and called him safe. He was out.”

Brown was having a solid outing until the seventh. He began the inning trailing, 3-2, and had only given up three singles since the second.

He retired the first two batters easily, but then walked pinch hitter Terry Shumpert on a full count. Then everything fell apart for the Dodgers.

Shumpert advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by Brown. Shumpert scored on Neifi Perez’s double to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead with Hamilton on deck.

Karros moved to his right to field Hamilton’s grounder while Brown broke to cover first. Brown caught the toss from Karros and planted his right foot on the bag in front of Davidson, who called Hamilton safe while Perez advanced to third.

Johnson rushed from the dugout, arguing briefly with Davidson before being ejected.

Onan Masaoka relieved Brown and walked Larry Walker to load the bases. Alan Mills relieved Masaoka and gave up two-run singles to Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla to increase the Rockies’ lead to 8-2.

Brown gave up 11 hits and was charged with six earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. He left the clubhouse before reporters were permitted to enter.

In his previous start, Brown was tagged for 11 hits and nine earned runs in six innings in an 11-2 loss in San Diego.

Brown has a 10.65 earned-run average in his last two starts, and a 3.68 ERA overall. He was leading the National League in ERA at 2.89 before his last two outings.

“I thought Brownie pitched well, he gave me what I needed, but that call . . . it changed the game,” Johnson said. “You should get the call when it’s the right call.”

Why should anything change now for the Dodgers?

* RANDY HARVEY: Watching Dodgers is as painful as, well, watching Todd Hundley throw. Page 2