Aches Cause Pains for Dodgers in 5-1 Loss

The makeup finally smeared on those crow’s feet around the eyes. A touch of gray was visible near the temples.

For one of the first times this season, the Dodgers showed their age in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Coors Field.

Center fielder Kenny Lofton and second baseman Jeff Kent came out of the game in the fifth inning, not because Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe had hit a three-run home run moments earlier, but because muscles stiffened in the mile-high air.

“Elevation and dehydration,” trainer Stan Johnston said. “They go together.”

Lofton, who will turn 39 in two weeks, suffered a leg cramp chasing Hawpe’s drive. Kent, 38, had stiffness in his lower back. Although neither injury appears serious, Manager Grady Little said neither player is expected to be in the lineup today.

“My body aches and usually gets sore here,” Lofton said. “I didn’t feel that way this time, so it’s weird.”

The loss pushed the Dodgers (20-20) back to .500 for the fourth time in six days.

In this case, 20-20 vision is fuzzy.

“It’s somewhat frustrating because we had such a good chance early in this game,” Little said.

Very early. And a very good chance. Rockies starter Byung-Hyun Kim walked the first three batters in the first inning, and three of his pitches were so wild they flew to the backstop without touching the catcher’s mitt.

J.D. Drew singled to right field, bringing home Rafael Furcal. Lofton was right behind him, waved around third by coach Rich Donnelly. But Hawpe’s throw nailed Lofton, and Kim retired Kent and Jose Cruz Jr.

The lone run was the extent of the Dodgers offense.

A day earlier, Donnelly sent pitcher Brett Tomko from second base on a similar hit. Hawpe’s throw was up the line and Tomko was safe. Donnelly felt this was a tougher play because left-handed Hawpe had to move to his right for the ball. Plus, speedy Lofton was running.

“Our scouting report said that when Hawpe has to move side to side, his throws can be off line,” Donnelly said. “I felt bad because I didn’t want to stop the inning.”

Kim, a side-arm pitcher who threw effectively against the Dodgers several times last season, needed 29 pitches to get out of the first inning, yet required only 72 over the next six.

By then the Rockies had scored five runs against Derek Lowe, the big blow coming from Hawpe on a first-pitch slider that followed singles by Todd Helton and Matt Holliday.

There was only one outfield putout against Lowe, who walked none and struck out none. He gave up nine hits, most on grounders that found holes.

“You come into this park and your goal is to not walk guys,” he said. “That’s as good as I can do here.”

Lowe’s record dropped to 1-3, but he has pitched much better than that. He hadn’t given up more than two earned runs in a start since opening day, and his earned-run average is 3.45. The Dodgers are 4-5 in his starts.

“At this pace I’ll win four games this year,” he said.

This time, however, he didn’t think he deserved a victory. Not when he gave up a three-run home run.

“When you give up five, you can’t expect to win a high percentage of games,” he said.

The percentages might be with the Rockies (22-18) today if the Dodgers are without Kent and Lofton. Kent has hit home runs in five of his last eight games. Before leaving the game, Lofton walked, singled and stole his 10th base.

As for the rest of the Dodgers, even the younger ones, they vowed to drink a lot of water.

“You burn up more water than your realize here,” Drew said. “I pounded it all day. Normally that weighs you down. Here, it just keeps you from cramping up.”