Shorthanded bullpen struggles at Coors Field 

DENVER -- When the Dodgers visit Coors Field, it’s almost guaranteed they’ll play in at least one high-scoring game. It’s just what happens in Denver.

The reality of Coors Field has always been difficult for opposing teams. It becomes exponentially more difficult when you’re down high-leverage relievers and carry a bullpen that has struggled all season.

A five-run sixth inning against the bullpen haunted the Dodgers in a 9-8 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday.

“There’s a lot of hits out there,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “And when you hit guys, walk guys, give them free bases, you know, big numbers are gonna happen like they did.”

After being used in a multi-inning relief role last time out, the Dodgers turned to Michael Grove to start. He battled through a leg cramp issue, but allowed four runs over five innings of work. Overall, it wasn’t a bad outing for the rookie right-hander considering the conditions.

The issue for the Dodgers came after Grove, particularly because of how shorthanded the bullpen was entering the game. After the game, Roberts confirmed that Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol and Ryan Brasier were unavailable.

Graterol and Phillips have been two of the Dodgers’ most reliable relievers. Graterol, however, had pitched in three of the past four games and Phillips -- because he was needed with two outs in the ninth inning on Tuesday -- had pitched in three consecutive games.

With a 6-4 lead in the sixth, the Dodgers turned to Victor González, who has struggled after a strong start to the season. Those struggles continued on Wednesday as the left-hander retired just one batter before being pulled with the bases loaded.

Because Graterol and Phillips were unavailable, the Dodgers went to rookie Nick Robertson to come in with the bases loaded against the top of the order. It was a tall task for a pitcher making just his sixth Major League appearance, and the Rockies jumped on the opportunity.

Robertson walked in a run against Jurickson Profar. He then gave up a bases-clearing double to Ezequiel Tovar to put the Rockies up for good.

“You’re shorthanded with some guys, some leverage guys,” Roberts said. “But you still got to go out there with the guys you have and make pitches and tonight we just couldn’t do that.”

The offense, on the other hand, did their part once again. Mookie Betts capped off a six-run fourth inning with a three-run homer, his 20th of the season, against Kyle Freeland.

But if there was one situation the Dodgers would’ve liked to see a different result, it was in the eighth inning. After scoring two runs in the frame to cut the deficit to one run, J.D. Martinez struck out on a Justin Lawrence sweeper to end the threat. That was the last chance the Dodgers got as they went down in order in the ninth.

“That’s the situation we want,” Betts said. “Unfortunately it didn’t happen ... that’s kind of how you draw it up and then you just let the chips fall where they may.”

In the end, something the Dodgers didn't want to draw up are the bullpen struggles they’ve had this season. Coors Field is hardly the place to measure success, but it’s becoming an increasing concern over the past few weeks.

The Dodgers will get some pitching reinforcements over the weekend as Daniel Hudson and Julio Urías are scheduled to return.

“It’s just kind of where we’re at,” Roberts said.