Hanley Ramirez sends another error message in Dodgers’ loss to Padres

If Hanley Ramirez on Monday offered a glimpse of the offensive force he could be when healthy, on Tuesday he provided a sobering reminder of the liability he presents as a shortstop.

The latest display of Ramirez’s defensive shortcomings was particularly painful for the Dodgers, as the three-time All-Star made two second-inning errors, helping the San Diego Padres to three unearned runs.

The Dodgers went on to lose the game, 6-3, and their lead over the second-place San Francisco Giants was reduced to 21/2 games.

“It ended up being a costly one tonight,” Manager Don Mattingly said.

With the game still scoreless and the bases empty in the second inning, Rymer Liriano hit a routine grounder to Ramirez’s right that looked as if it would be the third out. However, Ramirez failed to get his glove down in time as he attempted to backhand the ball, resulting in Liriano landing on first base.

Alexi Amarista followed with a single off Dodgers starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez that advanced Liriano to third base.

Hernandez proceeded to served up a two-run double to the gap in left-center field by the opposing pitcher, Andrew Cashner. Yasiel Puig retrieved the ball and fired it back toward the infield, only for Ramirez to miss it. The ball skipped by second baseman Dee Gordon as well, offering Cashner an opening to take third base. Cashner scored on the next at-bat, as Cory Spangenberg singled to center field.

The Dodgers were down, 3-0.

For Ramirez, the errors were his 15th and 16th of the season.

Only two shortstops in the National League have committed more errors, Ian Desmond of the Washington (22) and Brandon Crawford of the Giants (20).

Desmond has played 140 games at shortstop and Crawford 133. Ramirez has played 102.

Ramirez also made an error in the Dodgers’ series-opening victory over the Padres the previous night, one of the three his team made on the same sixth-inning play. But he also had four hits and two RBIs in that 9-4 Dodgers win. Tuesday, he went 0 for 4.

Mattingly made light of the three-error sequence the next day, wisecracking, “There were some good things in there — we backed up some bases, we did some things right.”

In a more serious moment, Mattingly said, “It really doesn’t bother me that much. It was really one play in a game that we were pretty good. Other than that, all our plays were pretty solid. We were pretty crisp and clean.”

Regardless of what Mattingly says, Ramirez’s defense should be a concern, particularly if the Dodgers are still playing in October, when the margin of error is smaller.

As it is, Mattingly has frequently replaced Ramirez with the sure-handed Miguel Rojas late in games to protect leads.

Ramirez’s regular presence in the lineup is a testament to the former batting champion’s ability as a hitter.

Even as he has battled a variety of physical problems in what is widely viewed as a down year for him, he remains a threat.

“It’s what we’ve been doing, trying to get offense from that spot,” Mattingly said. “He’s a guy who can do it.”

While Rojas or Erisbel Arruebarrena would provide significant improvements on defense, they would also mark massive downgrades on offense. Rojas is batting .194, Arruebarrena .250.

In the Dodgers’ previous four games, Ramirez drove in five runs, reaching base nine times in 17 plate appearances.

He drew a walk in his first at-bat Tuesday and promptly stole second base. The steal was his 14th this season.

Ramirez nearly drove in a run in the third inning, as Dee Gordon was on second base when Ramirez smashed a line drive that was caught by second baseman Jedd Gyorko.

With two on and the Dodgers down to their final out in the ninth inning, Ramirez lined a ball that was caught at the edge of the warning track in right-center.

But the highlight of Ramirez’s day came before the game even started. On his final swing of batting practice, Ramirez launched a ball that hit the top of the awning of the left-field pavilion and bounced out of Dodger Stadium. Ramirez smiled and flipped his bat as his teammates applauded.