Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
By Jon Weisman
From the moment he had the Cincinnati grounds crew work on the mound before throwing his first big-league pitch in 19 days, Bud Norris rarely looked comfortable, and he rarely got comfortable in what became a 9-2 loss Friday to the Reds, a loss that dropped the Dodgers into a temporary first-place tie with San Francisco in the National League West.
Three batters into the game, Norris was down 3-0 after a walk to leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton, a single by one-time Dodger Ivan De Jesus Jr. and a three run homer by Joey Votto. Norris stabilized some in the second and third innings, but was knocked out in the fourth by a two-run double form opposing pitcher Tim Adleman and a bases-loaded walk by Votto.
Corey Seager's OBP is .368, the highest it's been in 2016 except after the second game of the season.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 20, 2016
The Dodgers reached base 17 times (four by Corey Seager), enough to threaten the Reds more than once, but their only run-scoring hit was Seager’s single in the seventh to cut the Reds’ lead to 6-1. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen drilled a ball with two runners on into the surely-you-jest stream.
It had to be a special and surreal moment for Lorenzen, whose homer was his first and came hours after he was reinstated from the bereavement list following the passing of his father.
Update: Cody Pace of MLB.com has more from Norris on his difficulties.
