Dodgers unable to mount any offense in 3-1 loss

LOS ANGELES — The concern about Rich Hill will linger on longer than the sting of losing 3-1 to the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon. Rich Hill pitched three innings before he was removed after re-aggravating the blister on his left middle finger.

The Diamondbacks took the lead in the third when Chris Iannetta hit a solo home run, his first home run of the season. Then, with the bases-loaded, Hill walked Jake Lamb to make it 2-0.

When Hill returned to the mound and made his warmup pitches but then after a meeting on the mound with manager Dave Roberts and trainer Neil Rampe, Hill was removed before the fourth inning began. Hill pitched three innings, gave up two runs and five hits.

After the game, Roberts said “In the middle of the game, [the skin] started cracking a little bit so that brought a red flag to our head trainer and so, it just made sense to get [Hill] out of the game.”

“How bad is it? Better than we expected,” Roberts said, “but there is some irritation to the new skin, we don’t know right now what the situation is as far as DL or not, I think we’ll make that decision tomorrow.”

Rich Hill said, “Everything appeared to be healed, it felt healed. I threw the bullpen, everything was fine, played catch, everything was fine. Yesterday, the day before that, there were no issues, I really don’t have answers, I wish I did. I don’t.”

Hill first noticed the problem earlier in the game.

“Actually during my at-bat, right before I was going up, I took a swing, and looked down and noticed on deck, it had opened up,” Hill said. “I was pretty disappointed, at that point but I was able to go out to third inning and pitch.”

The Dodger bullpen continued their fine work today as they pitched six innings and gave up a run and four hits. The Dodgers are currently carrying eight relievers because they optioned outfielder Trayce Thompson before the game

Ross Stripling relieved Hill and pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings. Sergio Romo replaced Stripling with with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth and got a double play to get out of the inning.

But in the seventh, Romo walked A.J. Pollock and with one out, Paul Goldschmidt singled in Pollock to make it 3-1. Luis Avilan relieved Romo and got out of the inning. Pedro Baez and Grant Dayton combined to pitch the eighth and ninth innings.

The Dodgers scored in the fourth inning, with two out, Yasiel Puig doubled in Yasmani Grandal.

Taijuan Walker gave up a run, four hits, one walk and struck out seven in five innings. Archie Bradley, Jorge De La Rosa and Fernando Rodney kept the Dodgers off the scoreboard to finish the win for the Diamondbacks.

Injury update

Outfielder Franklin Gutiérrez is going to travel with the team when they go to Arizona this weekend. The team is encouraged by Gutiérrez’s progress and they will know more after Gutiérrez takes some at bats at Camelback Ranch.

Up next

The Dodgers will go for a series win on Monday night . Brandon McCarthy will make his third start and will go against left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray.

Sunday particulars

Home runs: Chris Iannetta (1)

WP - Taijuan Walker (2-1): 5 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts

LP - Rich Hill (1-1): 3 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Sv - Fernando Rodney (4): 1 IP, 1 walk, 1 strikeout