DODGERS RETURN TO LOSING WAYS : COLORADO 8, DODGERS 4.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Davey Johnson spent 45 minutes before Sunday's win in a closed-door meeting with his players to talk about the club's shortcomings, and when everyone emerged the Dodgers played one of their best games.

If the Dodgers manager can come up with 3,690 more minutes of invigorating prose and soliloquy, it may be enough to get the Dodgers back into playoff contention. After all, momentum seems to last but a day for the Dodgers.

Mercifully, the first half of the season is one game away after another setback, this one an 8-4 loss to the Rockies in the opener of a four-game series Monday at Coors Field. The fast-fading Dodgers are 8-19 in series openers.

``You keep going out there and keep playing and give it your best because you never know if something can pop up like San Diego and you win 14 in a row,'' Dodgers closer Jeff Shaw said. ``I was talking to (Colorado's) Lenny Harris before the game, and he said he couldn't believe we were playing the way we were with our talent. It doesn't look like this team can win 14 straight right now, but you keep going.''

A day after Johnson aired his displeasure about the ongoings of his club, he was ejected for arguing during a five-run Rockies seventh inning that broke the game open.

More carnage?

Now, it's to the point where the Dodgers can't even count on ace Kevin Brown, who lost his second straight start for the first time. Brown (9-6) allowed six runs on 11 hits in 6-2/3 innings and has given up 15 runs on 22 hits in his past two starts. For the second straight start, Brown wasn't around after the game.

The last-place Dodgers (35-45) are again 10 games under .500, and if losing seven of eight isn't indicative of their play, try losing 10 of 13 - or 19 of 26. During the string, the Dodgers have scored more than five runs just eight times. They were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position against Rockies starter Darryl Kile (5-6) and two relievers, and the consistently close games takes a burden on the pitchers.

``It makes a pitcher throw more pitches, you're much more careful,'' Dodgers pitching coach Claude Osteen said. ``It's even to the point where if you get ahead in the count, you re-check the strike zone and it makes you pitch much more careful. It wears on you.''

One thing the Dodgers certainly don't handle well is adversity, which manifested itself in the seventh inning. They folded and the Rockies, mired in their own slump of having lost 10 of 12, attacked and took control.

The inning's turmoil began when Brown threw errantly to first on a pickoff attempt, which led to a Neifi Perez RBI double. A batter later, Darryl Hamilton grounded to first and, with Brown covering, was ruled safe on a close play. Brown argued, Johnson followed, and he was tossed by first base umpire Bob Davidson.

``I saw him touch it from where I'm at,'' Johnson said. ``He's going to call him out and has a brain cramp and calls him safe. He said (Brown) missed the bag.''

Brown was pulled and Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla followed with two-run singles, both while behind in the count, to give the Rockies an 8-2 lead.

By contrast, Gary Sheffield and Raul Mondesi batted with one out and runners on third earlier in the game and neither could get the run in. Mondesi hit a trickler in front of the plate and Sheffield struck out. Instead of possibly tying the game, the Dodgers trailed 3-1.

``We had Sheff in a situation with second and third and one out and we didn't get a run in,'' Johnson said. ``We have to get a run. . . It's the difference, the little things.''

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Momentum was fleeting for the Dodgers and Kevin Brown, who lost for the second straight game.

(2) Shortstop Jose Vizcaino turns a double play in the Dodgers' loss at Colorado on Monday.

David Zalubowski/Associated Press