LOS ANGELES -- It seemed like a bit of an odd move at the time. J.J. Hoover had struck out the first two batters of the eighth and D-backs manager Torey Lovullo elected to bring in closer Fernando Rodney to face Corey Seager with Arizona down 5-4 on Saturday night.
"We wanted to give [Rodney] some work," Lovullo said. "He hadn't thrown in several days and it was part of the design. He and I talked about it before the game that he wanted to get some work on the mound."
Rodney, who had not pitched in three days, gave up a double to Seager, hit Justin Turner with a pitch and gave up a three-run homer to Yasiel Puig to give the Dodgers a cushion heading into the ninth.
"I know that every pitcher has little moments like that that are a little startling to everybody, myself included," Lovullo said. "And he was one pitch away from getting out of that the way we wanted him to get out of it. But overall I think he's done exactly what we've asked. He's closed out the games that we've needed him to, taken pressure off the rest of the bullpen and made sure he's anchored down that area."
Rodney is 3-for-3 in save opportunities and has a 12.46 ERA.
"I wanted to get work in," Rodney said. "I don't want to get too much rest. I feel pretty good. It was just a couple of pitches where I missed the location last night. That double to Seager and the homer to Puig."
Defensively speaking
The D-backs committed six errors through the first five games of this road trip and Lovullo was asked if he was concerned about the defense.
"It's of minimal concern," he said. "That's on these guys to make it happen and they're putting in the time and they're putting in effort. The coaching is there. It's a very strong ingredient that makes me think things are going to be OK."