Sinking Feeling Gets to Dodgers

DENVER —  Despite a big payroll, big talk and big expectations, the Dodgers are nothing more than a fourth-place team.

The Dodgers acknowledged that after losing their fifth in a row Saturday afternoon, 7-6 to the Colorado Rockies, before 37,241 at Coors Field.

The Rockies scored six runs in the first inning against Chan Ho Park before a batter had been retired, benefiting from shortstop Alex Cora’s two errors.

Park (15-9) rebounded and the Dodgers rallied, but the Rockies escaped several jams and moved ahead of their struggling visitors in the National League West.

The Rockies (73-68) are half a game ahead of the Dodgers (73-69), who matched their season-high losing streak.

Shawn Green grounded into double plays in the seventh and ninth--the last one ending the game--with the Dodgers trailing by a run.

Colorado’s Todd Helton was one for four, dropping his average to .385. Reliever Gabe White (10-2) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings and closer Jose Jimenez got his 19th save.

Adrian Beltre’s 17th home run established a Los Angeles team record of 192, and Chris Donnels’ pinch-hit homer, the Dodgers’ ninth, matched the overall franchise record.

But that wasn’t enough to jump-start the moribund club.

The Dodgers appear eager to be anywhere except on a baseball field as another disappointing season closes.

They wish it had already ended.

“What it all boils down to is enthusiasm,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “I don’t know what more [Manager] Davey [Johnson] can do or say to get guys motivated. We’ve had enough team meetings.

“[Management has] put everything on Davey, and it’s unfair, but that’s just part of life in the big leagues. We’ve got more going on than Davey, or any manager, can do anything about. It wouldn’t make a difference if Einstein was managing this team.”

Although some team officials believe the Dodgers should be a World Series contender, players have lost hope of qualifying for the playoffs.

“The reality is we’re not going to win the division or get a wild-card berth,” closer Jeff Shaw said. “But you always have to have something to strive for no matter what.”

So what’s their motivation now?

“Why not shoot to get to second place?” Shaw said. “We’re playing like a fourth-place team, but we should be playing better.

“Over the next 20 games we have left, we have to prove something to ourselves. We have to prove we’re not as bad as we’ve played the last five days.”

On Saturday, the Dodgers were especially bad at the outset.

The Rockies’ first eight batters reached base as they scored their most runs in an inning for the second time this season.

The Rockies also scored six runs in an inning July 26 against the Dodgers.

It was simply a horrible start for Park, who was 4-0 with an earned-run average of 0.84 in his previous four starts.

Park gave up only another run in the third, pitching five innings, and three Dodger relievers combined to work three scoreless innings.

Typically, it wasn’t enough.

“Obviously, you have to go out and play for your pride now,” Sheffield said. “You don’t want to embarrass yourself when you put on the uniform.”

Too late.