Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear to Rich Hill that he expected to see improved results when the southpaw made his second rehab start for High-A Rancho Cucamonga. The plan called for Hill to throw 75 pitches over five innings.
He needed 68 pitches to get through five hitless innings in the Quakes win over the San Jose Giants (San Francisco affiliate) on Wednesday night. “Did he yell at (Quakes manager Drew) Saylor like he yelled at me?” Roberts joked after the Dodgers’ win.
Hill finished with three strikeouts and issued three walks, though there appeared to be instances where he was squeezed by home-plate umipre Justin Anderson.
The performance was a stark contrast to Hill’s first outing with the Quakes in which he was lifted at 29 pitches in two-thirds of an inning. He allowed four runs on three hits.
Hill was scheduled to throw 60 pitches over four innings, which required him to head to the bullpen for additional work in order to reach that target.
He had a very stern look though…… https://t.co/Q2Dd6sTFgv
— Drew Saylor (@drewsaylor19) May 11, 2017
Hill last pitched in a Major League game on April 16, lasting all of three innings before the chronic blister crept up. In addition to making two rehab starts, Hill managed to play catch on several occasions and throw bullpen sessions, seemingly without aggravating the blister on his left middle finger.
Next for the 37-year-old figures to be a start with the Dodgers, potentially on Tuesday, against the Giants at AT&T Park.
