The Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to get back in the win column on Jackie Robinson Day, but their bullpen managed to rebound from a sloppy performance against the San Diego Padres.
After Tyler Glasnow struggled in his start, Ricky Vanasco and Nick Ramirez combined for four perfect innings of relief. “Those two guys were huge today,” manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss to the Washington Nationals.
“You’re looking at trying to win a series, trying to win a game tomorrow. (Ryan) Yarbrough is going to pitch tomorrow, we do know that. And we’ve got to make a pitching move tonight. I don’t know yet, talking through it. We’ll talk through it tonight.
“But for Ramirez and Vanasco making his debut to take on two innings, Ramirez to go back-to-back, pitch three innings for us, was huge. And those are things that sort of get lost as the season goes on, but it allowed for them to take care of some other guys in the pen.”
As Roberts noted, Vanasco was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before Friday’s game as the corresponding move to J.P. Feyereisen being optioned.
Vanasco had appeared in four games for Oklahoma City this season, converting three saves and allowing just one run and collecting eight strikeouts. The right-hander re-signed with the Dodgers during the offseason on a split contract after becoming a Minor League free agent.
“Ricky is a four-pitch pitcher, he’s got really good stuff to get righties out, get lefties out,” Roberts said of Vanasco in Spring Training. “We’re just trying to continue to harness that command, because when he’s in the strike zone, the stuff plays.”
Nick Ramirez effective for Dodgers
Ramirez was recently acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the New York Yankees. He was added to the 40-man roster as the corresponding move to Brusdar Graterol being transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Ramirez made his team debut on Sunday against the Padres, which saw him throw one scoreless inning. Through two appearances with L.A., the left-hander has not allowed a run in three innings pitched.
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