PARK CAN'T PULL L.A. FROM MIRE COLORADO 7, DODGERS 6.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

DENVER - The Dodgers death march has brought solemnness to everything and even Kevin Brown and Chan Ho Park, two of the few consistent performers in this now dreadful season, are part of it.

Park and Brown have lost before but only because the Dodgers failed to score runs. But a day after Brown had trouble against Colorado, Park yielded six runs in the first inning, which was too much for the stumbling, bumbling Dodgers to overcome in a 7-6 loss to the Rockies on Saturday at Coors Field.

The Dodgers, five games out of first place on Aug. 29, are 10 1/2 games out and in fourth place. The Rockies (73-68) moved ahead of the Dodgers(73-69), who could end up in last place considering they lead San Diego by 3 1/2 games and have six remaining against the Padres.

How much worse can it get? Well, Curt Schilling against Luke Prokopec could give some insight to that, but that's not until Tuesday in Arizona. For now, the Dodgers must deal with their fifth straight loss and figure out a way to turn a $98 million bust into something respectable.

``I think it's just enthusiasm,'' Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield said. ``I watched these guys doing real well on TV when I was sick. It seemed like they had fire in their eyes, like the enthusiasm was there. I always say that if guys in the lineup are not showing enthusiasm, not doing their jobs, give those guys on the bench a chance to do it because when those guys come off the bench, they're anxious to play.

``They're going to bring that enthusiasm out there on the field and it's going to rub off on the other players. You keep going with the same guys thinking it's going to change, and if it hasn't changed now, it's not going to. Guys feed off each other, and guys look up to veteran players.

``When veteran players are dragging and not playing with enthusiasm, not playing with fire, the younger players see that and they try harder and it makes them make mistakes.''

Though the Dodgers came back from a 6-0 first-inning deficit to pull within 7-6 on Chris Donnels' pinch-hit homer in the sixth, the day was splashed with uninspired play and three errors, two by shortstop Alex Cora.

Looking for his career-high 16th win, Park (15-9) instead allowed six hits and six runs as the Rockies sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning.

Former Dodgers outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, who went 2 for 3 with a run scored and RBI for the Rockies, said he understands how things could have gone south for his former team.

``You try to make up this ground and it can be disheartening,'' Hollandsworth said. ``You feel like you're treading water because the team in front of you is doing the same thing.''

DODGERS vs. COLORADO

Time: 12:05 p.m., at Coors Field.

TV/Radio: Channel 5; 1150-AM, 610-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort (10-8, 4.61 ERA) will try to get back on the winning track in the finale of a three-game series. Dreifort had a winning streak broken at six games when he allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings in his last outing. Dreifort is 1-3 with a 5.77 ERA in his career against the Rockies. Colorado right-hander Pedro Astacio (12-8, 5.16) faces his former teammates. He's 3-2 with a 4.65 ERA in his career against the Dodgers. Astacio left his last start after one pitch when he was hit by a line drive, but he's fine.

-Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:(1) SNIDER

(2) SHEFFIELD

Box: (1) CHASING DUKE

(2) DODGERS vs. COLORADO (see text)