DENVER -- Even by the no-lead-is-safe standards of Coors Field, the Los Angeles Dodgers' 12-10 win Sunday over the Colorado Rockies defied belief.

The Dodgers jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the third inning, taking advantage of ineffective starter Jordan Lyles.

That advantage vanished in the eighth when the Rockies batted around and scored five runs to go ahead 10-5. However, Rockies closer Jake McGee blew his first save of the season as the Dodgers erupted for five runs as they batted around in the ninth for a hard-earned win in the rubber game of the series, a 4 hour, 2 minute marathon.

"If this isn't proof enough of anything and everything that can happen here, I don't know what is," said Dodgers starter Alex Wood, who pitched into the sixth and gave up five runs.

McGee gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out in the ninth. A run scored when shortstop Trevor Story juggled a potential game-ending, double-play grounder. Pinch hitter A.J. Ellis' single made it a one-run game.

With Chase Utley batting, the Dodgers tied it on McGee's wild pitch. The Dodgers added two runs on back-to-back, run-scoring doubles by Utley and Corey Seager. The latter hit finished McGee (0-1), who gave up five runs on five hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.

"Can't let them get in hitter's counts," said McGee, who threw 34 pitches to eight batters. "I have to bear down a litte more. Today, everything happened at once."

McGee primarily throws four-seam fastballs but will mix in an occasional curve. He threw six pitches, all fastballs, to Utley, who connected with the count 2-2.

"Could've thrown a curve there," McGee said. "If I located a fastball (better), could've gotten him to pop up."

The Rockies took their first lead of the game in the eighth. Carlos Gonzalez grounded a single to tie the game, and the ball went through the legs of right fielder Yasiel Puig, allowing a second run to score and put the Rockies ahead 8-7. Gerardo Parra, who went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, followed with a two-run single.

Dodgers right-hander Joe Blanton (2-1) got a double-play grounder to end the eighth. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save of the season and his 21st in a row dating to last season.

"I feel like at this ballpark, every time you get a four-run lead, you just got to feel it's a two-run lead, one-run lead," Jansen said. "Crazy stuff can happen, and it just did. That was a good thing about our offense to step it up and give me a chance to at least come in and help the team to get the win."

A third poor start in four outings left Lyles with a 7.64 ERA and shoved the Rockies into a big early hole. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings -- Lyles has worked a mere 17 2/3 innings in his four starts -- and gave up seven runs, five earned, on five hits and five walks while throwing just 36 of 65 pitches for strikes.

With two outs in the first, Lyles threw nine consecutive balls in the process of walking the bases loaded. He escaped that inning when third baseman Nolan Arenado charged Howie Kendrick's slow grounder, made a bare-handed grab and threw Kendrick out.

Lyles gave up two walks and two doubles in the second when the Dodgers scored four runs, two unearned due to an errant flip by Story. Puig doubled home two runs, and the other two scored on groundouts.

In the third, Joc Pederson hit his third homer. With two outs, Wood and Utley singled, and Seager's triple put the Dodgers ahead 7-1.

The Rockies rallied for three runs in the fourth, scoring on Parra's double and a single by Dustin Garneau and a bunt single by Chris Rusin, who worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Lyles. It could have been a bigger rally save for Puig catching Brandon Barnes' drive, crashing into the wall but holding the ball to end the inning with runners on first and second.

"It's a game of emotions here," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I think right now it's more (feeling) relief that we can get out of here and not look forward to coming back until August."

NOTES: Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa was feeling better after a bout with stomach flu but will be given an additional day of rest and start Tuesday rather than Monday as scheduled. RHP Chad Bettis will start Monday on regular rest against Pittsburgh...Rockies C Nick Hundley (concussion) played seven innings in his second rehab game for Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday and went 1-for-3 with one RBI and one walk. He is expected to be activated Monday. ... Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon (turf toe, left foot) ran the bases and is expected to play two games on a rehab assignment this week. ... Dodgers 2B Chase Utley and 1B Adrian Gonzalez, both left-handed hitters, will not be in the lineup Monday against Marlins LHP Wei-Yin Chen, manager Dave Roberts said. ... Dodgers 3B Justin Turner, who pinch hit Sunday, is expected to be ready to return to the lineup Monday against the visiting Miami Marlins. He was spiked on the joint of his left big toe Friday night and didn't play Saturday. ... OF Carl Crawford (lower back tightness) was scheduled to finish his rehab assignment Sunday with Class A Rancho Cucamonga and rejoin the Dodgers on Monday.