Ted Lilly, Dodgers, rocked in 12-2 loss to Rockies

One of the problems if you’re a pitcher and older and coming off surgery and you never really threw that fast to begin with, is that people tend to get very nervous when you have a really bad outing.

Ted Lilly is older (37) and coming off surgery (shoulder) and never threw that fast to begin with, and safe to say, had a really bad outing Monday night. And some people are going to be left very nervous.

Lilly lasted just three innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and a pair of walks, setting an early tone for a complete blowout, the Dodgers falling, 12-2, to the Rockies before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 31,570.

Poor right-hander Josh Wall, called in for the ol’ take-one-for-the-team bit, followed and actually threw worse. It happened. By the time it was over, second baseman Skip Schumaker was on the mound for the Dodgers.

In the 62 pitches Wall threw in a mere two innings, he gave up seven runs on eight hits and a pair of walks.

Wall, of course, is not being counted on to help stabilize a rotation that currently has four starters on the disabled list. Lilly is, though he had made only one start this season since returning from shoulder surgery.

He threw five impressive innings April 24 in New York against the Mets, but was nowhere near that form Monday.

The first four Rockies he faced all hit the ball hard — and fair. Dexter Fowler led off the game with a home run, and after a single by Jordan Pacheco and double by Carlos Gonzalez, Wilin Rosario unleashed a three-run homer. It was 4-0 Colorado and Lilly had yet to get an out.

Lilly added an unearned run on his own fielding error in the third, and had to strike out Jordan Pacheo on a 72-mph curveball with the bases loaded to avoid more trouble.

In the midst of his third-inning troubles, the Dodgers came to the mound with trainer Sue Falsone. Lilly remained to finish the inning, but then was done.

In his three innings, Lilly threw 71 pitches.

If his shoulder is biting again, rookie Matt Magill’s stay might be just a tad longer than anticipated.

Wall is essentially the last man out of the bullpen, so when he started struggling in the fourth, no help was going to arrive. He gave up five runs in the fifth alone, then two more in the sixth.

It was 12-0 after five innings. Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a two-run homer off Adam Ottavino in the seventh, so at least the Dodgers avoided the shutout.

Schumaker became the first Dodgers position player to pitch since Mark Loretta in St. Louis on July 28, 2009. Schumaker’s last pitching effort came in St. Louis against the Dodgers last Aug. 28.

The Rockies loaded the bases against Shumaker, but he held them scoreless. Even hit 90 mph on one pitch.

The Rockies finished with 19 hits.