DODGERS INSIDE LOOK: NOMO WILL BE A BIG FACTOR PITCHER RETURNS WITH GOOD START.Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer Hideo Nomo Hideo Nomo (born Aug. 31, 1968 , Osaka, Japan) Japanese baseball pitcher whose success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 created new opportunities for Asian players in Major League Baseball. didn't have to read the out-of-town scoreboard to know there was a lot riding on his first start in two weeks. Sunday marked his return from an inflamed right rotator cuff rotator cuff n. A set of muscles and tendons that secures the arm to the shoulder joint and permits rotation of the arm. Also called musculotendinous cuff. , and he responded with 5 2/3 solid innings in the Dodgers' 5-2 victory over the San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. Padres. Nomo, who tied a career high with his 16th victory, was aware early that Florida lost to Atlanta and the Dodgers had a chance to move within 2 1/2 games of the Marlins in the National League wild-card race. Everybody in the crowd of 45,405 at Dodger Stadium • • [ knew. What they didn't know is that if the Dodgers are tied for the wild-card lead at the end of the regular season, Nomo will get the ball for a one-game playoff The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. Sept. 29. ``We have every confidence in him,'' manager Jim Tracy
Nomo threw 71 pitches. His only mistakes were home runs by Brian Giles Brian Stephen Giles (born January 21, 1971, in El Cajon, California) is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the San Diego Padres (2003–present). Giles (pronounced JYLES) attended Granite Hills High School and did not attend college, but played with the and Sean Burroughs Sean Patrick Burroughs (born September 12, 1980, in Atlanta, Georgia) was a third baseman for the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball prior to being traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2005 offseason. He currently is a free agent. . But the Dodgers got two homers from backup catcher David Ross and one each from Robin Ventura and Jeromy Burnitz. ``My shoulder felt a lot better,'' Nomo said through an interpreter. ``Of course, I need to check my shoulder every day, but I am confident I can go the rest of the way.'' Nomo said there was no pain in his right shoulder during the past two weeks, ``but it just didn't feel right.'' He missed his Sept. 6 start against Arizona, and rookie Edwin Jackson was spectacular in his place while winning his major-league debut. But Nomo threw in the bullpen Thursday and began to feel his velocity and command return. ``That was a big day for me,'' Nomo said. ``I knew I could come back.'' Nomo was not on a pitch count Sunday. But when Burroughs homered with one out in the sixth and the Padres threatened to score again, Tracy came to the mound and called for Guillermo Mota. ``So many good things happened today I didn't want something to happen and spoil it,'' Tracy said. After getting today off, the Dodgers play 14 games in their final 13 days, including a doubleheader Sept. 27 against the San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California that currently play in the National League West Division. New York Giants history Early days and the John McGraw era . Wilson Alvarez, who threw a four-hit shutout Friday night, would pitch the second game of the doubleheader on three days' rest. Kevin Brown would pitch the the next day, the final day of the regular season, on three days' rest. If the Dodgers are tied for a wild-card lead after that game, Nomo would pitch the one-day playoff on Monday on three days' rest. If they win the wild card outright, Nomo would pitch the first game of the division series Tuesday on regular rest. ``I saw the scoreboard (Sunday),'' Nomo said. ``But there still are two weeks left. I want to be a part of that.'' Matt McHale, (818) 713-3622 matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo will start a wild-card playoff game if it's needed after the regular season ends. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer |
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