Humidor notwithstanding and even though everyone knows that “no lead is safe at Coors Field,” nobody really thought that the team with the best record (and player) in baseball could blow a 7-0 lead against the sub .500 4th place  Colorado Rockies; but then, we are talking about the Dodgers and this is Coors Field. For seemingly the first time this season someone not named Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier (ok, just Matt Kemp) actually contributed to what eventually ended as a nerve-racking 7-6 win for the Dodgers. And while the hip bumps, high-fives, knuckle knocks and handshakes were a welcome sight after this ‘near miss’ win, one has to be at least a little concerned that perhaps the bullpen on the National League’s best team isn’t as good as some believe it is, as it allowed four unanswered runs late in the game. Were it not for a game-saving diving stop at second base by Mark Ellis in the bottom of the 9th and perhaps the best outing of the season for Dodger closer Javy Guerra, this one very easily could have slipped away.

To say that Ted Lilly hasn’t been an absolute breath of fresh air in the Dodger rotation would be a flat out lie. He has proven skeptics (including myself) completely wrong – especially in the home runs allowed department. And even though it was the 6th inning home run that he gave up to Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez that ignited Colorado’s comeback, Lilly kept them at bay most of the night allowing only the two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four… that’s the good news. The bad news is that Lilly came out of the game after pitching the 6th inning for what he describes as a side strain. “I was throwing the kitchen sink at them,” Lilly told reporters. “I was thinking about it early, and in the fifth it kept getting a little worse. I’ve had this in the past, but minor. I thought it was getting better. I only feel it when I throw. I started the game and felt good, but it crept up on me.” One has to believe that this is a very significant issue for the 36-year-old left-hander and will most likely land him on the DL.

Although Ted Lilly pitched yet another gem on Tuesday night to collect his 3rd win and team-leading 1.38 ERA, it appears that he is headed for the DL with a possible oblique injury. (Photo by Doug Pensinger)

Without question the biggest surprise of the night was a lead-off home run in the thin Denver air by thin Dodger shortstop Dee Gordon. Gordon absolutely smoked a line shot off of the second deck facade in right field for his first career home run giving the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. Although certainly not known for his power, Gordon’s shot measured out at 419 feet and was followed minutes later by a three run blast (which still hasn’t re-entered the earth’s atmosphere) by Dodger right fielder Andre Ethier to give the Dodgers what appeared to be a comfortable 4-0 lead. Ethier’s home run measured out at a very impressive (even by Coors Field standards) 424 feet and leap-frogged him over Matt Kemp (again) for an MLB-leading 27 RBIs, two better than Kemp. It was Ethier’s 6th home run of the season. Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis added another home run for the Dodgers in the 5th inning, a two-run shot to left field and his second of the season. A.J.’s home run would prove to be the final runs scored by the Dodgers which should be a topic of discussion in the Dodger clubhouse today by manager Don Mattingly. For whatever reason, the Dodgers have a very disturbing habit of backing off after scoring early in games rather than maintaining a killer instinct and piling on runs against their opponents. Hopefully Mattingly (and hitting coach Dave Hansen) will address this issue – and soon.

Dee Gordon collected his first career home run off of Rockies' starter Jhoulys Chacin. After considerable negotiation with the fan who got the ball, it was returned to Gordon. By the way, Gordon now has more home runs than Albert Pujols this season. (Video capture from KCAL 9 Sports)

I would be remiss to not mentioning that Rockies’ center fielder Eric Young Jr. made an absolutely spectacular diving catch off the bat of Dee Gordon in the 3rd inning. The catch quite possibly robbed the speedy Gordon of his second home run in as many at bats, this of the inside-the-park variety.

Rockies' center fielder Eric Young Jr. made a spectacular diving catch of a Dee Gordon liner. (Video capture from MLB.TV)

As a side note and a clear sign of the times, the fan who got Gordon’s first career home run ball entered into a game-long negotiation period before finally agreeing to give Gordon the milestone ball back. The reported trade was for two personally autographed baseballs with the official Dodger Stadium 50th anniversary logo on them. That said, I suspect that there may have been a little more involved than just two baseballs – especially in today’s eBay society.