Bud Norris makes rehab start for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

Norris could rejoin the Dodgers on their upcoming road trip

By Eric Stephen@ericstephen Aug 14, 2016, 6:00am PDT

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks

Bud Norris had a successful minor league rehab start on Saturday night, pitching into the sixth inning for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, which puts him in line for a possible return to the Dodgers’ starting rotation later this week.

Norris allowed one run on four hits and a walk in 5⅔ innings, with four strikeouts. It was his first start since leaving his July 31 start with back stiffness after just two batters.

After this outing, Norris is in line to start for the Dodgers on Thursday in Philadelphia, likely in the place of Brandon McCarthy, who is likely headed for the disabled list after battling hip stiffness and control problems, walking a career-worst five batters in each of his last three starts.

Norris on Saturday also got to wear a Dora the Explorer jersey with the Quakes.

Bud Norris or Dora the Explorer pic.twitter.com/ZnWWZeWNh8
— RC Quakes Baseball (@RCQuakes) August 14, 2016

@truebluela Bud Norris touching 96-97 in Rancho. Also looking good in his Dora the Explorer backpack pic.twitter.com/fp8ZgQ4cOE
— Jeffrey Pallotta (@JeffreyPallotta) August 14, 2016

Since he was acquired from the Braves on June 30, Norris has a 434 ERA in 29 innings with the Dodgers, with 32 strikeouts and six unintentional walks.

Player of the day

Tulsa Drillers first baseman Cody Bellinger went 2-for-3 with a walk and a home run on Saturday, driving in two and scoring two runs. Bellinger just turned 21 in July, and has held his own by hitting .261/.362/.462 with 17 home runs as one of the youngest players in the Texas League this season, including .280/.375/.507 after his 4-for-37 start to the year.

But on Saturday he not only showed off his bat with the titanic home run, but also made a fine defensive play, showing off his range at first base.

@Dodgers prospect @Cody_Bellinger does it all as he shows off his bat and glove #Dodgers #Homerun #WebGem pic.twitter.com/0y0wjRy7qz
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) August 14, 2016

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Lisalverto Bonilla pitched into the seventh inning, allowing two runs while striking out seven with no walks, in a 4-2 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) on Saturday.

Will Venable was 3-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in the win, and Austin Barnes was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Yasiel Puig was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Double-A Tulsa

In addition to Bellinger, Edwin Rios also homered to help Tulsa to a 7-3 win over the Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers). It was the fifth home run in 14 games for Rios since joining the Drillers, and his 27th on the season, most among Dodgers minor leaguers in 2016, by one over someone mentioned below.

Alfredo Figaro, signed to a minor league deal by the Dodgers on June 10, pitched six scoreless innings for the win. He filled in for Isaac Anderson, who was scratched as a precaution for an undisclosed injury.

Class-A Rancho Cucmoanga

Norris got the win in the Quakes’ 6-1 win over the Visalia Rawide (Diamondbacks) on Saturday, and Adam Bray got a three-inning save by striking out four and allowing only one hit in his three scoreless frames.

Johan Mieses homered again, a three-run shot for his 26th of the season. The 21-year-old outfielder has eight home runs in his last 11 games, including one in four straight games. Mieses also has 13 home runs in his last 19 contests.

Class-A Great Lakes

Designted hitter Ibandel Isabel and right fielder Logan Landon each homered and had three hits in a 6-3 win over the Lake County Captains (Indians) on Saturday. 19-year-old southpaw Lenardo Crawford struck out six in his five innings, allowing three runs for the win in his second start since joining the Loons.

Rookie-level Ogden

Left fielder Mitch Hansen homered, stole a base and drove in three runs, but the Raptors lost 14-8 to the Billings Mustangs (Reds) on Saturday.

Transactions

Class-A: Catcher Pete Summerville, who last played for Santa Clara in 2014, and who interned at Gabe Kapler’s Kaplifestyle website, signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers and was assigned to the Quakes. ... catcher Spencer Navin, drafted in the 11th round in 2013, was released ... pitcher Michael Boyle was placed on the temporary inactive list.

Rookie: Infielder Cristian Gomez sent from Great Lakes to Ogden