Distracted Dodgers Lose, 2-1

Baseball players are forever complaining about distractions. Often their concerns seem trivial to ordinary folk who regularly overcome rush-hour commutes, airport security lines and household budget constraints most major leaguers know little about.

But the Dodgers could say without flinching that they faced a legitimate distraction Wednesday night in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

A lengthy team meeting that ended after 6 p.m. was presided over by owner Frank McCourt and General Manager Paul DePodesta, who emphasized the long Dodger tradition of tolerance and diversity.

The meeting was prompted by inflammatory comments made by outfielder Milton Bradley about second baseman Jeff Kent a day earlier. McCourt and DePodesta chose not to single out Bradley for criticism, instead addressing behavioral expectations they have for everyone.

Then the Dodgers had a game to play.

They were solid with the glove and sluggish at the plate, leaving 10 runners against Byung-Hyun Kim and three relievers. Kim might have an earned-run average of 5.12, but he has held the Dodgers scoreless for 13 consecutive innings.

The Dodgers didn’t get a hit until Jose Cruz Jr. doubled with one out in the fifth inning. They didn’t score until Olmedo Saenz singled to drive in Ricky Ledee with two out in the eighth. And they squandered opportunities in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings.

“The missed offensive opportunities is what hurt the most,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “It would have taken a two-out base hit, but in a 2-1 game, that’s what you need.”

Dodger rookie D.J. Houlton turned in his best performance of the season by holding the Rockies scoreless for seven innings. But rookie relievers Steve Schmoll (2-2) and Yhency Brazoban surrendered two runs in the eighth and the Dodgers (57-69) fell to six games behind San Diego in the National League West.

“It’s frustrating for all of us,” Kent said.

The loss of Bradley, who has a knee injury, could add to offensive woes that have plagued the Dodgers most of the season. Bradley, who bats third, is hitting .290. Shortstop Cesar Izturis and outfielder J.D. Drew also are injured.

“That’s the way of the world this season with the Dodgers,” outfielder Jayson Werth said.

Clubhouse friction is a relatively new concern. Kent said he has reflected on the incident that led to Bradley’s comments.

“I make mistakes and I’ve been criticized for my mistakes,” he said. “I try to deal with them and learn from them and move on.

“I’ve played this game a long time and I’m trying to handle this situation like a professional. I continue to try to hold on, even when sometimes I’m only holding on by one finger.”

Neither McCourt nor DePodesta would comment on what they told the team during the pregame meeting, but players said the owner told them that Bradley “needed time to heal.”

McCourt, the players said, did not establish whether Bradley would return to the team. DePodesta answered a question about Bradley’s return next season by saying, “I hope so. We all hope so.”