Notebook: The return of two relievers, Wood debuts, power plays
SURPRISE, Ariz. — With most of the pitching focus on Alex Wood and his permanent switch to the stretch, the two pitchers who threw after the Dodger starter might remember Monday afternoon more vividly.
The Dodgers’ 9–6 win against the Rangers marked the first time Garcia threw in a game for the Dodgers since April 2016 and the first time for Liberatore since May 2017. Garcia had knee and Tommy John surgery in 2016, while Liberatore was shut down for most of 2017 with forearm tightness.
Both pitchers recorded a strikeout and a perfect inning Monday, with Garcia reaching the mid-90s on his fastball.
“It was great, especially for Yimi,” said manager Dave Roberts. “It’s been two years, the knee, the Tommy John, to get him out there. There was a little energy and adrenaline. For him to go out there and attack, fastball was good, had life, 94–95.
“Libby, fastball command was fine and the split-change was really good. Both those guys, very positive.”
Garcia said it was difficult last year to see his teammates playing every day and not being able to help win games, but he’s known for a while he’d be healthy entering 2018. He said the strikeout against his first batter, getting Ryan Rua on three pitches, felt “amazing.”
“This is so exciting,” Garcia said. “To think, two years, no pitching and now I’m pitching. For me, it’s very exciting to be out there.”
Power Plays
· Kiké Hernández hit a double and a triple Monday and is now 3-for-6 — with all three hits going for extra bases — with three walks this spring.
· Kyle Farmer worked this winter on his hips to become a better receiver behind the plate. It hasn’t hurt him at the plate, either, as he went 3-for-3 with three RBI Sunday to move to 5-for-8 this spring. “Every time he’s been out there this spring, he’s looked really good and done things to really make a case for himself,” Roberts said. “Defensively, behind the plate, the way he works with pitchers and stole some strikes and in the batter’s box, really looked good.”
· Roberts said Monday morning he’s confident Chris Taylor can repeat his success from 2017 because of his mechanics and his ability to swing at strikes and take balls. That latter ability was on display later in the day, as Taylor added two more walks and now has three walks in nine plate appearances this spring.
· Taylor scored on a two-run, go-ahead double from Cody Bellinger, who’s doubled in two of his three spring games.
Wood Debuts
Alex Wood made his first 2018 Cactus League start Monday, allowing two walks and an RBI single in his lone inning of work before throwing a second inning in the bullpen.
“I felt good,” Wood said. “It’s crazy being back out there. It was exciting. I was glad to get the first one out of the way, as you always are in spring.”
Wood said while his command wasn’t great, he felt his “stuff was pretty good.” He also felt fine mechanically and was asked again about what’s been one of the more-discussed topics at camp, which is him going entirely out of the stretch. It’s a move he insists is minor, since his mechanics don’t change from that position.
“It’s just the timing and tempo, getting that timing down,” Wood said. “That’s what goes hand-in-hand with the command part of it. So the more I get out there, the better it should get.”
