Since moving into the rotation on a permanent basis, Alex Wood has been the Los Angeles Dodgers best pitcher behind Clayton Kershaw. Manager Dave Roberts referred to Wood as ‘1A’ following a start late last month.
But Wood finished May on the 10-day disabled list due to inflammation in his left SC joint. He nonetheless was named the National League Pitcher of the Month. Wood was expected to miss just one start, however his recovery stalled and it led to the Dodgers making a second turn in the rotation without the southpaw.
Wood was back on the mound Saturday night for his first start since May 26. There weren’t any signs of rust.
He retired the first six batters faced, including three via strike out. Wood nearly stranded a Scooter Gennett leadoff double in the third inning. Jose Peraza’s two-out RBI single snapped Wood’s scoreless innings streak at 27.1 innings.
“You don’t really think too much about it,” Wood said of the stretch without allowing a run. “It’s nice to do things like that, but I’m just glad to be pitching well and giving us a change to win every time out.”
Wood exited at 87 pitches over 5.2 innings. Roberts planned for him to throw 80-85 pitches in the return. “He got tired and his stuff started to fall short,” Roberts later said of removing his starter.
Wood was responsible for runners on first and second base, and both scored when Josh Fields surrendered a three-run home run upon entering the game. The final line of three runs allowed on five hits did not affect Roberts’ assessment of the outing.
“Alex Wood, what he did coming off the disabled list, pitched a heck of a ballgame,” Roberts said. “He really was great, dominating. He was really good through five.”
The 27-year-old Wood said he did not feel any ill-effects of the inflammation that sidelined him for nearly two weeks. “I felt good, thought my stuff was good,” Wood said. “I was pretty gassed that last inning, but I felt good overall.”
