Rich Hill needed all of five pitches to throw a 1-2-3 first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night. But it was downhill for the Los Angeles Dodgers veteran left-hander from there on out.
Hill issued a career-high seven walks in just four-plus innings. He threw 82 pitches, 42 of which were called balls. Hill’s troubles with his command were compounded by home-plate umpire Rob Drake’s tight strike zone.
“After that first inning, very easy inning, it was pretty encouraging,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his club’s 6-1 loss to the Cardinals.
“But once he took the mound in the second inning, I think he got a little frustrated with the strike zone. There were some pitches up that I think he felt were strikes. I think that led to his inconsistency going forward. After that, fastball and curveball command were not there.
“When you don’t feel you’re as sharp as you can be or have been in the past, then every pitch that’s close, you feel you need. When you don’t get those pitches, it doesn’t come out of the hand great and it’s a borderline pitch, I guess it kind of ramps up your frustration.”
Hill and Drake exchanged words on at least one occasion. They had a conversation between innings, presumably over balls and strikes. In addition to noting the impact frustration may have had, Roberts wondered if Hill’s blister was an issue.
The 37-year-old shot down that notion. “I’m healthy,” Hill said. “It was a bad outing. That’s it. It was terrible. I accept full responsibility for that. Just gave them the game. It’s really a tough thing to swallow. I look forward to this week and just getting ready for the next game.”
Hill explicitly stating he’s healthy in some sense also puts to rest any concern over his left shoulder. Hill was often seen stretching his throwing arm between pitches and batters, seemingly never getting fully comfortable.
The start was Hill’s second since coming off the disabled list because of chronic blisters. He was pitching on seven days’ rest, which may have factored into compromised mechanics and lack of command.
Hill in some sense came unhinged during a 36-pitch second inning. Hill twice walked the bases loaded during the frame, though to his credit only allowed two runs. He was ultimately charged for five runs.
