LO DUCA THROWS AWAY GAME ERROR IN 9TH SINKS DODGERS COLORADO 3, DODGERS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

For the first time in his magical season, Paul Lo Duca looked as if he just had been shipped back to the minors.

Tucked deep in his locker after Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Lo Duca, the feel-good story of the Dodgers' first-place run, felt awful about the ninth-inning throwing error that spoiled what could have been a special night.

With a Dodger Stadium sellout of 54,556 suddenly there for more than the Fernando Valenzuela bobble-head doll, right-hander James Baldwin was cruising in his first National League start. The Dodgers were going for a sweep of the Rockies and their 24th win in 31 games.

``And I let everybody down,'' Lo Duca said.

With the score tied and Jeff Cirillo on second after a lead-off double, Lo Duca tried a pickoff throw with Alex Ochoa at the plate. It sailed into center field and Cirillo took third. Ochoa followed with a base hit to right off Matt Herges (8-8) and the Dodgers lost for just the third time in the past 16 games.

``(Baldwin) did his job, the Rockies did their job, I just didn't do my job,'' Lo Duca said.

It is uncertain if Cirillo would have scored from second with strong- armed Shawn Green in right. Or if the Rockies would have sent him with no outs.

What was certain was that Baldwin was a hit in his first game with the Dodgers, allowing seven hits and two runs in eight innings. He said the huge crowd made him nervous at first, then energized him through the middle innings.

``I was a little anxious,'' said Baldwin, acquired Thursday from the Chicago White Sox. ``But everything has been so positive in the first few days I've been here. I was pleased with the outing but not the outcome.''

Baldwin was sharp, recording 81 strikes in his 108 pitches. He also benefited from three Dodgers double plays. His toughest inning was the sixth, when he gave up a leadoff single to Juan Pierre and a two-out, opposite-field home run to Todd Helton.

Baldwin, 30, went 7-5 with the White Sox but won five of his last six starts before the trade. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder last October but didn't regain his arm strength until late June.

The Dodgers were leery at first of taking on the rest of Baldwin's $5.95 million salary but finally cut a deal for three minor-leaguers. Like starters Chan Ho Park and Terry Adams, Baldwin is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

``He looked very good,'' Rockies manager Buddy Bell said of Baldwin. ``This could be one of the great pickups down the stretch.''

Dodgers manager Jim Tracy hopes so. He also is confident Lo Duca will throw this one in the trash and be ready Tuesday when the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Lo Duca has had a breakout year after playing all or part of eight seasons in the Dodgers farm system. He has become a crowd favorite, a blue- collar guy on a team of stars who has succeeded after being down so long.

``With all that young man has done, he can hold his head up high,'' Tracy said. ``There were plenty of spots where we could have won this game.''

One was Lo Duca's 17th home run in the Dodgers' first at-bat.

For the fourth time in the series, the Dodgers scored in the first inning when Lo Duca greeted Rockies rookie starter Shawn Chacon. It marked the fifth time the Dodgers have gone deep to open a game, including three by Lo Duca.

But Lo Duca wasn't in the mood for good thoughts. With Alex Cora on third with the go-ahead run and one out in the eighth, he popped to the catcher against left-hander Jay Powell (3-2). Mark Grudzielanek grounded to second to end the rally and the Dodgers lost the game in the next inning.

``It is just so frustrating after the performance we got from (Baldwin),'' Lo Duca said. ``We had a chance to keep this going.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) Newly acquired Dodgers pitcher James Baldwin was impressive in his first National League start, yielding two runs in eight innings.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(2) no caption (Shawn Green) Box: (1) ON PACE (see text)

(2) ROCKIES 3, DODGERS 2