Dodgers bullpen can’t bring it home in 7-6 loss to Rockies

The Dodgers’ struggles scoring has been an ongoing theme this season, if one of the dark variety. Yet it has hardly been their only issue.

Their bullpen and defense have also let them down, and both shortcomings were on display Saturday in the 7-6 loss in 10 innings to the Rockies at Coors Field.

After reliever Ronald Belisario surrendered a two-run lead, Matt Guerrier was done in by a two-out rally in the 10th. He allowed a pair of grounders that went for singles before Dexter Fowler lined a basehit to score the winning run.

The Dodgers also committed a pair of errors and now lead all of baseball in that department with 43.

The Rockies had lost six of their last seven, but the Dodgers twice were unable to protect a lead.

Zack Greinke started for the fourth time since returning from a broken collarbone, and for the third consecutive start was far less than effective, let alone ace material.

Greinke went 5 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on nine hits and three walks. Over his last three starts, he has an 8.78 ERA and has allowed 27 hits and seven walks in 13 1/3 innings. Not exactly your typical $147-million pitcher.

After the Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the second, the Dodgers took their first lead with three runs in the third.

Tim Federowicz, starting at catcher in place of A.J. Ellis (oblique), started the rally with a solo home run. It was the first home run of his career. Greinke singled and Carl Crawford doubled him to third. Crawford grabbed the back of his lower left leg while running to second. He left the game with what the Dodgers must have almost gleefully announced was only a cramp.

After Jhoulys Chacin hit Mark Ellis with a pitch to load the bases, Adrian Gonzalez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Jerry Hairston Jr. singled in another.

But the Rockies took back the lead with three runs in the fifth after Fowler singled in one and Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer off Greinke.

The Dodgers had a rally in them, however, going back in front in the sixth.

After Skip Schumaker singled to extend his hitting streak to nine games, Nick Punto added a basehit and Federowicz lined a double to center to score both.

Don Mattingly was ejected in the bottom for the inning for arguing a call, and bench coach Trey Hillman took over as manager.

The Dodgers were feeling better when they added one more in the top of the seventh, when Hairston doubled with two outs and scored on a Schumaker single. Schumaker had been 5 for 30 with runners in scoring position until that hit.

But the game was now in the hands of the bullpen, which has been a shaky proposition. Ronald Belisario, who had earned a seven-pitch save Friday night, came on in the seventh and quickly gave up a two-run homer to Michael Cuddyer to tie it at 6-6.

J.P. Howell restored order momentarily, retiring all seven batters he faced, including four on strikeouts.