Rich Hill went into Wednesday’s start expected to have a full outing in what was his final time pitching in the regular season. He spun a gem against the San Diego Padres, allowing just two hits and issuing two walks.
Hill notched 10 strikeouts over seven shutout innings, his longest start since going nine-plus in a heartbreaking walk-off loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 23. “Austin [Barnes] did a great job behind the dish,” Hill said.
“Kept a good rhythm, and all my pitches were working. It was a good way to end the season.” Hill won’t start again until the National League Division Series, presumably in Game 2 on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The 10-day layoff is hardly worrisome to the veteran southpaw. “It all comes down to effort and the way you go about your business,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter when the next outing is for me. It’s keeping the effort and intensity consistent. When you do that, you’re giving yourself a chance.”
In five September starts, Hill went 3-2 with a 1.86 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 40 strikeouts against eight walks. “To have that as your last start going into the postseason is pretty exciting,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Hill’s outing against the Padres.
For as well as he fared on the mound, the 37-year-old added an RBI single in the second inning. It was Hill’s fourth RBI this season, and second in his last two starts. Hill’s allowed a combined three runs in his last three starts.
“Good timing, I guess,” he said of the recent success at the plate. “Right for the postseason. Hopefully that bat stays hot.”
