Hyun-jin Ryu starts rehab assignment, Gavin Lux homers in Double-A debut

Dodgers starter Hyun-jin Ryu began his minor league rehab assignment on Thursday night with four scoreless innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Ryu struck out four and allowed only a pair of singles while throwing 47 pitches in his first game action since May 2.

Ryu missed three months after — and this can’t be stressed enough — tearing his groin off the bone, and is expected to make four or five rehab starts before potentially returning to the Dodgers’ rotation. If all things go according to plan it seems mostly likely that Ryu would return once active roster limits expand in September.

Thursday night was a good start.

Player of the day

Shortstop Gavin Lux, the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick in 2016, hit a home run in his Double-A debut on Thursday night, keying a Tulsa victory. Batting leadoff, Lux was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and hit a two-run shot in the sixth innings. Lux also made an error at shortstop.

The 20-year-old Lux is hitting .328/.399/.529 with 29 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs, in 89 games on the season.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Another top Dodgers prospect made a level debut on Thursday, with catcher Will Smith starting in Oklahoma City’s 6-3 win over the the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners). Smith was 0-for-3 but walked and stole a base in his Triple-A debut.

Second baseman Angelo Mora homered, stole a base and drove in three in the win.

Double-A Tulsa

While Lux keyed the offense, Justin De Fratus did the deed on the mound in the Drillers’ 5-1 win over the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners). De Fratus struck out seven while allowing only one unearned run in his 7 innings.

First baseman Eric Peterson doubled twice and walked for Tulsa.

Advanced Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

First baseman Nick Yarnall homered, doubled and drove in three runs in the Quakes’ 8-2 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres). Isaac Anderson struck out seven in pitching the final four innings, allowing a pair of runs in the win.

Right fielder Cody Thomas and shortstop Omar Estevez also homered for Rancho Cucamonga, and catcher Connor Wong added two hits.

Dodgers reliever Zac Rosscup also began a rehab assignment with the Quakes, pitching a perfect fifth inning with one strikeout. Rosscup was placed on the disabled list on July 25 with left middle finger inflammation.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons started two hours late thanks to rain, then saw an additional 19-minute delay in the fourth inning, but prevailed in the inclement weather over the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 3-1. Edwin Uceta pitched six scoreless innings, permitting only a pair of singles while striking out four.

Center fielder Chris Roller, in his fourth game with Great Lakes after getting promoted from Ogden, homered in third inning for his first hit with the Loons.

Transactions

Double-A: Pitcher Jason Richman was promoted from Rancho Cucamonga, and pitcher Antonio Hernandez was sent to the Arizona rookie league.

Class-A: Pitcher Austin Hamilton was activated off the disabled list by the Quakes.

Thursday scores

• Oklahoma City 6, Tacoma 3
• Tulsa 5, Arkansas 1
• Rancho Cucamonga 8, Lake Elsinore 2
• Great Lakes 3, West Michigan 1
• Ogden 7, Orem 5
• AZL Cubs 6, AZL Dodgers 5
• DSL Cubs 8, DSL Dodgers Guerrero 7
• DSL Rays 10, DSL Dodgers Robinson 0

Friday schedule

4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Alfredo Tavarez) vs. West Michigan (Brad Bass)

5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Dustin May in his Double-A debut) vs. Arkansas (Williams Perez)

6 p.m.: Ogden (Caleb Sampen) vs. Orem (TBD)

6:35 p.m: Rancho Cucamonga (Wills Montgomerie) at Lancaster [Rockies] (Logan Longwith)

7:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Daniel Corcino) at Tacoma (Bryan Evans)