Pitching problems cost Dodgers dear

Rosscup earns a two-run homer to give Colorado a 5-4 win

The Dodgers wielded enough power to overcome their bullpen deficiencies at Coors Field. A day later, the strength of the offence could not compensate for the weakness of the pitching staff in a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Zac Rosscup, a seldomused left-handed reliever, served up a two-run homer to Colorado infielder Ryan McMahon to allow the Rockies to grab the lead in the seventh inning.

The Dodgers do not view Rosscup as an ideal candidate for high-leverage outings. But after failing to add notable help for the bullpen at the trade deadline, and after losing closer Kenley Jansen to a recurrence of his irregular heartbeat, manager Dave Roberts must use the players on his roster. “It’s calling for us to put guys in positions they haven’t been in,” Roberts said. “And asking more of them, and putting them in higher-leverage spots, and extending them.”

In what could be his final outing in the starting rotation, Kenta Maeda held the Rockies to three runs in 51/3 innings. He gave up a two-run home run to the second batter he faced, but settled down from there.

Maeda is expected to return to the bullpen to stabilise the group as Jansen recovers.

The two offences picked up where they left off on Thursday night. The Dodgers collected a first-inning run on a double by Justin Turner and an RBI single from Yasmani Grandal.