The Los Angeles Dodgers secured a series win over the Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-1 victory behind the rookie battery of Gavin Stone and Hunter Feduccia.
Stone held the Rays to just one run and three hits over seven innings. He finished with seven strikeouts but did not factor into the decision due to exiting with the game tied.
“Just mixing off-speed, fastball. Found the right time for certain pitches and Feddy did a great job calling the game,” Stone said of his success.
“I’ve thrown to him a lot in the Minors, so for him to come up here and have that moment with him was awesome.”
The Dodgers recalled Feduccia from Triple-A Oklahoma City last week as the corresponding move to Austin Barnes being placed on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured left big toe.
Feduccia made his first start with the Dodgers on Sunday and also recorded his first Major League hit.
“It’s awesome. He’s one of my best friends in this organization and he has been for a while. Just to be a part of his special day was pretty cool,” Stone said of pitching to Feduccia.
Gavin Stone & Hunter Feduccia had ‘good game plan’
Feduccia, who caught Stone on many occasions in the Minors, believes familiarity and planning was key to success against the Rays.
“Going into we had a good game plan,” Feduccia said. “Sinker was working well, just the back-and-forth game with the sinker and slider, and mixing in the changeup. He threw a helluva game, so it was easy to catch. He kind of led most of the way and made it easy for me.”
Feduccia noted that Stone is a much more polished pitcher now compared to their days in Oklahoma City. “I think the sinker is a big part of his game now,” Feduccia began.
“Working off his slider, which I think got a little better too. Adding two pitches helps your game. You can mix and match a little bit more.”
Stone improved to 11-5 with a 3.33 ERA, 3.89 FIP and 1.21 WHIP in 135.1 innings pitched over 24 starts this season. His 10 quality starts rank third among all rookie pitchers, and are second on the Dodgers staff behind Tyler Glasnow’s 14.
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