Not Wild About Nomo

The velocity that had been sapped by off-season shoulder surgery returned for Hideo Nomo on Wednesday night after a two-month layoff. But so did the spotty command, and now the struggling right-hander might be down to the last start of his distinguished Dodger career.

Nomo issued three of his season-high five walks during a three-run third inning that helped the Arizona Diamondbacks score a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers before 34,149 at Bank One Ballpark.

While Nomo ran his losing streak to 10 games as the Dodgers lost for only the third time in 15 games this season against Arizona, Dodger Manager Jim Tracy preferred to focus on the season-high-tying seven strikeouts that Nomo recorded in his first outing since June 30.

“What you saw tonight was something that we did not see before the layoff,” Tracy said of Nomo’s fastball, which was consistently in the 88-91-mph range. “He can be very effective if he pitches like that.”

Still, it might be difficult to justify giving the erratic veteran additional starts in the final weeks of a pennant race if he continues to crumble as he did in the third, when he issued a two-out walk to Arizona pitcher Brandon Webb to start the Diamondbacks’ rally.

“The only thing that was disappointing about the outing was the walks that set up the three-run inning,” Tracy said. “Beyond that, we might have put up zeros all the way across the board.”

After retiring the first two batters in the third, Nomo (3-11) issued consecutive walks to Webb and Andy Green, who had entered in the second after Quinton McCracken strained his right groin.

“That was my biggest mistake,” Nomo said of the consecutive walks through an interpreter.

Alex Cintron followed with a run-scoring double to left before Nomo walked Danny Bautista to load the bases.

Shea Hillenbrand stroked a two-run single to left, improving to seven for 11 lifetime against Nomo, as the Diamondbacks seized a 3-0 advantage.

The Dodgers put two runners on in the fourth and fifth innings but came up empty each time amid exasperating circumstances. Nomo struck out in the fifth on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and Shawn Green was called out on runner’s interference going to second base to end the fourth.

Second base umpire Joe West ruled Green had interfered with second baseman Cintron as he tried to field Hee-Seop Choi’s grounder, which nicked Cintron’s glove and rolled away. Green threw up his arms in frustration and Tracy raced from the dugout in protest.

“I think the replays will show you Shawn Green did not obstruct the fielder from fielding the ball,” Tracy said.

“He did everything he could to take an alternate route to second base.”

The Dodgers scored a run in the sixth and had runners on first and third with nobody out before Webb struck out Choi, Alex Cora and Brent Mayne to avert further damage.

Milton Bradley drew a leadoff walk on a full count and went to second when Adrian Beltre singled through the left side of the infield. Green then hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Hillenbrand, whose throw to second base ricocheted off Beltre’s upper back and into left field, allowing Bradley to score and Beltre to take third.

Three Diamondbacks combined to pitch three scoreless innings of relief.

Nomo, who gave up four hits and three runs in six innings, is scheduled to start against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, but Tracy has made no promises beyond that.

Nomo said he was not pleased with his results in his return from tendinitis in his rotator cuff but was happy that his shoulder felt stronger than it had all season.

“I don’t think I’m 100%, but I’m pretty healthy,” Nomo said. “I just need to keep strengthening my body because hopefully I’ll be pitching more often.”