DENVER –– It seemed like the high altitude got to Dodgers catcher Hunter Feduccia during Tuesday night’s game.
Or maybe it was just my Smashburger from earlier.
Feduccia had to exit the game against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning, feeling unwell and ended up being sick in the dugout.
“He has gastroenteritis or food poisoning, something along those lines,” manager Dave Roberts commented later. “He was battling through the game, but eventually, he couldn’t hang on any longer.”
Interestingly, Feduccia had won his second game in a row and his fourth in five days, although he finally gave up a run in the seventh inning with one out.
After he struck out relief pitcher Edgardo Enriquez with a slider in the first inning, Feduccia seemed to be on a roll, even hitting a double shortly afterward.
But then, he quickly dashed off the field, heading to the dugout, leaving a bit of a mark that needed cleaning up near the team’s bench.
“He really gave it his all,” Roberts said about Ben Roortvedt, who finished up the game for Feduccia.
Feduccia contributed significantly to the Dodgers’ strong offense for the second consecutive game by drawing two walks early on, which played a key role in securing the series victory.
Shohei Ohtani was pivotal as well, hitting Feduccia’s first free pass in the third inning and launching his 30th home run of the season. Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, and Teoscar Hernandez delivered two hits each, combining for three RBIs. Even Kyle Tucker broke out of a tough 0-for-26 slump with an RBI double in the fourth.
Moreover, Eric Lauer’s four-run inning in the fifth and solid two-run relief in the fourth, capped by a four-out save from Tanner Scott, added to the win’s importance.
Feduccia has shown growing comfort with the Dodgers’ pitching staff since joining from a traded loan last year and being reacquired to bolster their catching depth. On Tuesday, he made his ninth start in 14 games.
However, he will have a much-needed day off on Wednesday.
“I think we’re just focused on getting him rehydrated,” Roberts mentioned after the game. “He’ll be off tomorrow.”
