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.