Hill makes an encouraging return
By Cary Osborne
The Dodgers lost 2–1 on Tuesday in San Francisco, still unable to breakthrough against the Giants’ Ty Blach. Blach held the Dodgers to one run in seven innings — a sixth-inning home run by Chris Taylor. The Dodgers have managed just three runs against the 26-year-old in 23 innings. In Blach’s other 28 2/3 Major League innings, he has a 4.70 ERA.
Pain is so close to pleasure for Hill
Rich Hill was aggressive with the curveball to the Giants on Tuesday — the same day he came off the disabled list due to a recurring blister on his left middle finger caused from throwing the pitch.
He threw 82 pitches — 46 curveballs, 36 fastballs.
Though his second curve of the game hit Denard Span in the helmet and he didn’t appear to have a feel for it early, Hill kept at it and was effective throughout.
The one blemish was a Brandon Belt solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning that gave the Giants a 1–0 lead.
Hill went five innings, allowed six hits and no walks, the one run and struck out six. He stranded runners in scoring position in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings.
In the fourth, he allowed the leadoff homer to Belt and surrendered back-to-back singles to Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford. However, he came back to strike out Justin Ruggiano on a fastball and induce an inning-ending double play by Eduardo Nuñez.
“The ball came out of my hand well — not 100 percent the way I wanted to — but the one mistake to Brandon on a curveball that kind of hung,” Hill told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo. “But overall everything came out the way I wanted to and the finger felt good. No issues there.”
On-base machine
On top of Taylor’s homer, he reached base three times. He had a leadoff walk in the first inning and a single in the eighth. He has now reached base safely in 15 straight games. His on-base percentage during that period is .475.
Fields keeps ’em scoreless
Josh Fields pitched two scoreless innings in relief. He hasn’t allowed a run in 15 of 16 appearances this season and his 0.55 ERA is now fifth among Major League relievers.
Grandal’s streak ends
Yasmani Grandal pinch hit in the top of the ninth inning, but was struck out by Derek Law, ending his nine-game hitting streak. During the steak, he was 16-for-35 (.457).
Rehab in Rancho
Adrián González went 0-for-2 with two walks in his return to action — a rehab assignment on Tuesday for High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Logan Forsythe was Rancho’s designated hitter and 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.
