DENVER -- It should have lined up as a home-sweet-home game for Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland. His last start, at Washington last Wednesday, was six innings with one unearned run, and a new shot of confidence

But back at Coors Field on Tuesday night, Freeland couldn’t keep the ball in his park. He gave up three homers and eight runs (seven earned) in 3 2/3 innings -- to bring the stunning total to 20 long balls in 77 innings this season -- in a 9-4 loss to the Dodgers.

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The execution that was so keen in Washington was non-existent Tuesday. Freeland’s start was another downer in an awful July, during which the Rockies have lost 12 of their last 16. They’ve also lost nine of their last 12 at home going back to last month.

“There have been some mechanical issues and things of that sort that are quick fixes,” Freeland said. “We know what the issue is, but you start making pitches and then they’re also getting hit, then you start making mistakes. Things can pile on themselves. I know what I need to do to execute. I’m just not doing it.”

In the Rockies’ previous nine games heading into Tuesday, their starting pitchers combined for a 2.89 ERA. Maybe with a surging rotation and a whole lot of help, the Rockies could somehow sneak back into the National League Wild Card picture.

Jon Gray’s eight standout innings in Monday night’s 9-1 victory over the Dodgers gave the Rockies a night of good dreams. With the Trade Deadline coming Wednesday, maybe another win could color the approach -- which so far has been quiet for the Rockies, with the exception of the odd team possibly nibbling for relief help. Toward that end, the Rockies showcased righty Bryan Shaw, who struck out six of the seven batters he faced in the final two innings on Tuesday.

But Freeland (2-9) gave up a game-opening homer to A.J. Pollock in a three-run first, then watched homers by Kristopher Negron and Russell Martin leave the yard in the second. The Rockies were down, 7-0, before a three-run third in which David Dahl tripled and Nolan Arenado and Ian Desmond doubled.

Freeland left with two out and a man on in the fourth, and reliever Chad Bettis gave up a two-run homer to his first hitter, Justin Turner. Rockies relievers giving up homers to the first hitter they face has been a maddening habit lately. It happened to Bettis, Carlos Estevez and Jake McGee during the last road trip. However, Freeland’s 7.48 ERA on the season -- 10.03 at home, thanks in part to 12 homers in 36 2/3 innings -- is a more pressing problem.

Last year, Freeland finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting, posted a 2.85 ERA and his 3.04 home ERA was the lowest in club history for someone who had thrown at least 100 innings.

But manager Bud Black noted that Freeland’s problems didn’t arrive all at once and, despite the encouraging start in Washington, they likely won’t be solved in a flash. On Tuesday, however, more fastballs were left up, the variance in velocity between his fastball and changeup was not as pronounced and his sliders were not located well.

“Like I told him, this is one start,” Black said. “Take last start and take this start -- two different starts. We’ll see what happens on Sunday [against the Giants].”