The Los Angeles Dodgers acquiring Jack Flaherty at this year’s MLB trade deadline not only helped fortify their starting rotation but also represented a homecoming for the Burbank, Calif., native.
Flaherty grew up attending games at Dodger Stadium and cheering for the team, which added to his excitement with being traded to the Dodgers. His Dodgers debut was an impressive performance against the Oakland Athletics on the road, and Friday was Flaherty’s first opportunity to take the mound as a home player at Chavez Ravine.
“I don’t really know if there’s words for it. I was a little bit sped up there in the first inning, the first hitter. It doesn’t usually happen at this point. Things are moving a little fast, just excited, a lot of emotions, a lot of things just going through my head, going to warm up and everything,” Flaherty described after the game.
“I tried to take it all in. Yeah, just a lot of fun. And then these guys came out, swung the bats tonight, getting a lead like that for me, just continued to go out and attack. J-Hey (Jason Heyward) was great defensively. Everybody was, but he made a couple plays that were huge.
“And guys came out and swung it. Freddie getting up there and going one nothing. And then from there, guys just added on, never stopped. So it was a lot of fun.”
Flaherty allowed a solo home run in the fourth inning and three-run blast in the fifth. He was on the verge of getting through the sixth inning before being removed after a two-out single.
“I thought Jack was good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I thought in that fifth inning there were some balls that leaked arm-side and a couple cement mixers to Joey Bart, who put a good swing on them.
“He was one pitch away from getting out of that inning and having an outing with one run given up. But it was good to see him go back out there for the sixth. He wanted it. I think in that point in time, once we got to Isiah Kiner-Falefa, felt that he emptied the tank.
“But I think overall, just a solid performance. I’m sure there’s a couple pitches he’d like to have back, but I thought overall, solid.”
Dodgers fans give Jack Flaherty standing ovation
Despite not being able to make it through the sixth inning, Flaherty received a standing ovation as he walked off the field.
“I think I was still pissed that I gave up the hit, and I didn’t finish the inning. But it was awesome,” he said. “It’s a special, special feeling just being from here and getting that and having that moment there. Yeah, just all around special.”
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