Dodgers lose to Giants again, 5-3

Reporting from San Francisco — Hong-Chih Kuo turned his wrist to make the tattoo on the inside of his right forearm visible.

The script was hard to make out, but Kuo explained the significance of the words, which were told to him by a late mentor.

“For me to believe in myself,” Kuo said.

Kuo’s self-belief continues to be tested. Sidelined earlier this season for more than a month because of an anxiety disorder, the former All-Star reliever is still trying to find himself.

Kuo served up a two-run double to Brandon Belt in what turned out to be the game-deciding seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 5-3 defeat to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night at AT&T Park.

A season removed from posting a franchise-record 1.20 earned-run average, the left-handed Kuo has an ERA of 9.26.

The words on Kuo’s right arm were those of Harvey Dorfman, the pioneering sports psychologist who has been credited with the turning around the careers of many major league players.

Dorfman passed away in February. Soon after, Kuo got his right arm tattooed.

“I wanted to have it so I can focus,” Kuo said.

Dorfman was employed by agent Scott Boras when Kuo was introduced to him in 2009. Kuo was represented by a different agent, but Dorfman still offered to help him. That year, Kuo came down a case of the yips — in other words, he was unable to throw a strike.

“He just told me to believe in myself,” Kuo said.

Kuo said the no-nonsense Dorfman helped him block out negative thoughts.

Even after Kuo returned to the field that season, he and Dorfman continued to talk regularly.

“I miss him,” Kuo said. “He will always be my friend. I will always remember what he told me.”

Kuo recalled telling Dorfman that he made the National League All-Star team in 2010.

“He was happy for me,” Kuo said. “I said it was because of him.”

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said he didn’t think Kuo’s latest performance would be a significant setback.

“I think you see a confidence in him that’s growing,” Mattingly said. “His stuff … it’s getting there.”

Kuo entered the game in the seventh inning with the score tied, 3-3.

He gave up a leadoff double to Andres Torres, who moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Fontenot. Kuo intentionally walked Pablo Sandoval, who was replaced by pinch-runner Emmanuel Burriss.

Burriss stole second base, leaving first open with one out. Kuo struck out Nate Schierholtz, intentionally walked Cody Ross to set up a showdown with rookie Brandon Belt, who homered in the second inning.

“You got what you wanted, Kuo against a lefty,” Mattingly said.

Belt doubled down the left-field line. Two runs scored.

The Dodgers were on their way to their fourth consecutive loss falling into a tie for last place in the National League West with the San Diego Padres. Both teams are 141/2 games back of the first-place Giants.

What made this loss particularly difficult was that the Dodgers scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead. Rafael Furcal, who was 0 for his last 19, drove in two runs on his first hit since July 8.

“It’s just …” Mattingly sighed, “kind of the story for us. The hit that we need, the out that we need, we’re not getting.”

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com