Kuroda joins list of Dodgers to pitch at historic ballpark
| Friday, May 22 2009 10:59 PM
Last Updated Friday, May 22 2009 10:59 PM
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Casey Christie / The Californian Los Angeles Dodgers' opening day starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is making a rehab start with the Inland Empire 66ers, Friday night at Sam Lynn Ball Park against the Bakersfield Blaze.
Casey Christie / The Californian Los Angeles Dodgers' opening day pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is making a rehab start with the Inland Empire 66ers, Friday, at Sam Lynn Ball Park while playing against the Bakersfield Blaze.
Casey Christie / The Californian Los Angeles Dodgers' opening day pitcher Hiroki Kuroda throws for the Inland Empire team Friday in Bakersfield against the Blaze.
From Pedro Martinez and Hideo Nomo, it had been a while since a Los Angeles Dodger pitcher, future or otherwise, had taken the mound at Sam Lynn Ball Park.
So when Dodger right-hander Hiroki Kuroda threw against the Bakersfield Blaze in a rehabilitation start for the Inland Empire 66ers on Friday night, it had a familiar feel at the ball park which housed the Dodgers' class-A affiliate for several years between 1967 and 1994.
"I wasn't aware of the storied (history of Sam Lynn Ball Park) but hearing that makes me appreciate even more that I got to pitch here," Kuroda said through an interpretor. "It kind of reminds of where I came from and playing here really makes me appreciate playing in the big leagues. I'm glad that I was able to pitch here."
Kuroda, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list after suffering a strained oblique in the Dodgers' season opener April 6, made 55 pitches Friday night, 39 of which were strikes, before being lifted with two outs in the fourth. He gave up one hit, a lead-off double in the second for Mauro Gomez, hit one batter and struck out three.
"I feel very happy because this was the first game since the season opener," Kuroda said. "I feel very fulfilled that I was able to pitch off the mound today. Right now it feels really good. What I have to be concerned about is tomorrow how I feel. But overall I feel really good."
The Blaze pushed across an unearned run off Kuroda in the second added another in the fifth off Tim Sexton (1-4) and Bakersfield held on for a 2-1 victory. In the process, Engel Beltre extended his hit streak to 18 games with an infield single in the fifth.
"It feel like it was a big challenge facing a major leaguer, but I also felt a lot of confidence," said Gomez through a Spanish translator. Gomez grounded out his second at-bat against Kuroda. "He had a very good slider."
It was the second time this season the Blaze have faced a major leaguer on a rehab assignment. Colorado Rockies pitcher Justin Speier pitched a scoreless inning for the Modesto Nuts on May 13.
Friday's start was the first of two scheduled minor-league starts for Inland Empire. If I goes well, Kuroda will be rejoining the Dodgers sometime soon.
"It's something I have no control over," Kuroda said. "But what I have to do is get ready for when they do call me up."
