Dodgers Fall Flat as Time Is Slipping Away

Five months of struggle behind them, the Dodgers hoped the turn of a calendar page would provide the impetus to pursue San Diego in the National League West with renewed vigor. Stay within shouting distance until September and make a move.

As they took the field against the last-place Colorado Rockies for their first game of the new month, the Dodgers watched on the outfield scoreboard as the Padres fell behind Milwaukee by seven, then nine, then 11 runs.

The hottest Dodger pitcher, Jeff Weaver, had the ball. A game in the standings was ripe for the taking.

So the Dodgers trailed by two, then four, then seven, then 10 runs before falling, 11-3, Friday night at Coors Field and remaining six games out of first with 28 to play.

“A lot of times teams like [the Rockies] play spoiler,” outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. said. “They play well at the worst time for a team like us.”

The Dodgers had shown signs of momentum, winning four of their last five. Weaver (13-9) had six wins in August and had pitched six or more innings in 18 consecutive starts, the second-best streak in baseball.

But he lasted only five innings, giving up home runs to Todd Helton in the first and fifth innings and a three-run homer to Garrett Atkins in the third, the number of homers against him growing to a mind-numbing 30.

Dodger hitters, meanwhile, squandered numerous opportunities, leaving 10 runners on base in the first six innings, including seven in scoring position. They had runners on first and third with none out in the first and did not score, then loaded the bases with two out in the fourth and sixth, and came away empty.

“The reason we didn’t get anything going was we had no two-out hits,” Weaver said.

Manager Jim Tracy handed the ball to a succession of rookies after Weaver left with the score 6-1, and they didn’t fare well. Franquelis Osoria gave up two runs in 1 2/3 innings, left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo gave up two runs in one-third of an inning in his major league debut, and Steve Schmoll gave up the last run in one inning.

Kuo, the fourth player from Taiwan to appear in the major leagues, came in with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh and got Clint Barmes to pop up weakly to shortstop with a fastball on the hands. But the left-hander walked the first two batters in the eighth and Tracy replaced him with Schmoll, who gave up a run-scoring single and two sacrifice flies.

It won’t be long before the hard-throwing Kuo, who has had two arm surgeries and began the season at Class A, eventually will be used in close games.

“There isn’t a whole lot of time to ease him in,” General Manager Paul DePodesta said. “He certainly will get an opportunity in key situations.”

It surprised many that Kuo was the first pitcher promoted when rosters expanded Thursday. The Dodgers have several prospects more highly regarded. But he is the team’s only left-hander with Wilson Alvarez and Odalis Perez on the disabled list.

“It’s amazing to get here,” Kuo said. “I’m just going to attack the hitters.”

The Dodgers (61-73) were left wondering whether they can mount an attack on the Padres. They cling to the knowledge that most remaining games are within the division, including six against San Diego.

“I think we do have a chance,” said Cruz Jr., who was acquired from Boston on Aug. 9. The Dodgers are 11-11 since he arrived.

“But we have to win our share now. There isn’t much time left.”