The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a three-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon by defeating the Colorado Rockies, 6-4, to avoid being swept at home.
The Dodgers trailed 4-2 but came back to tie it in the fifth inning and then took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth. For Los Angeles, the winning pitcher was right-hander Daniel Hudson, who tossed a scoreless eighth inning, retiring the side in order with one strikeout on just eight pitches.
Hudson has been an essential part of the Dodgers bullpen in recent weeks, and manager Dave Roberts was complimentary of what he has been able to do for the team, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“Daniel’s throwing as well as anyone in the ‘pen,” said Roberts. “Not necessarily the formula, but it’s the way to win a baseball game today.”
The Dodgers signed Hudson to a Minor League contract at the beginning of April after he was released by the Tampa Bay Rays.
He got off to a bit of a slow start with the Dodgers, but in the month of June, he appeared in 11 games, giving up just one earned run in 15 innings (0.60 ERA) with 18 strikeouts compared to just six walks.
Hudson’s win on Sunday brought his record to 3-2, which goes along with a 3.55 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 26 total games this season. He has 32 strikeouts compared to 16 walks in 33 innings.
With Pedro Baez, Tony Cingrani and Josh Fields all currently on the 10-day disabled list, Hudson has stepped up in a big way in their absence as a late-inning reliever.
The team may certainly look to add help in the bullpen via trade before the non-waiver deadline, but it appears that Hudson is beginning to solidify himself as one of Roberts’ top options regardless of who the team acquires.
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