Bud Norris has a rough return to the rotation in Dodgers’ 9-2 loss to the Reds

As he warmed up on Friday evening, Dodgers starter Bud Norris noticed a chunk of clay missing from the mound. The grounds crew at Great American Ball Park fixed the surface, but Norris never found his footing in a 9-2 loss to the Reds.

In his return from the disabled list, Norris could not complete the fourth inning. Cincinnati taxed him for six runs. Manager Dave Roberts saw his lack of comfort from the outset, and Norris admitted the conditions affected him.

“I never really got comfortable,” Norris said. “But that’s not really an excuse. You’ve got to go out there and play the game.”

Norris was not the only Dodgers pitcher to falter Friday. In the seventh, Pedro Baez served up a three-run homer to fellow pitcher Michael Lorenzen. By then, the game had already drifted out of reach.

Norris allowed the first three batters of the game to reach. The last player in the sequence was Reds slugger Joey Votto, who hit a three-run homer. In the fourth, Norris gave up a two-run single to Cincinnati starting pitcher Tim Adleman and walked Votto with the bases loaded.

“That fourth inning got away from him,” Roberts said.

Reddick to get day off

With a left-handed pitcher slated to start for Cincinnati on Saturday, slumping outfielder Josh Reddick will get a day off, Roberts said. Reddick went one for four with a walk Friday, but is still batting only .164 since the Dodgers acquired him Aug. 1.

Despite the struggles, Reddick continues to bat fourth in the lineup. Roberts acknowledged the frustration after the game.

“He’s pressing,” Roberts said. “He’s getting some pitches in the strike zone that he’s not finishing the at-bat. Whether it’s a swing and miss, or a foul ball. There’s some visible frustration. He wants to perform. It seems like there comes some spots each game where he has a chance to impact the game. But he hasn’t come up with that hit.”

Liberatore rejoins team

The Dodgers activated both Norris and Adam Liberatore (elbow inflammation) from the disabled list before the game. To make room on the roster, the team optioned pitchers Ross Stripling and Casey Fien to the minors.

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Twitter: @McCulloughTimes