BOSTON — Ryan Brasier wasn’t really nervous running in from the visitor’s bullpen at Fenway Park to face his former team Sunday.
“More excited. I’ve been itching to get in after last night warming up and then today warming up,” Brasier said. “Getting in, I was just ready to go.”
He was ready. Brasier retired all three batters he faced, two on strikeouts, to help lead the Dodgers to a 7-4 victory over Boston.
Justin Turner and Adam Duvall hit back-to-back homers off Dodgers righty Gavin Stone with no outs in the eighth inning to cut it to 7-4. Brasier then replaced Stone and struck out both Triston Casas and Trevor Story swinging. He then retied Pablo Reyes on a groundout to shortstop. All three outs were recorded with his slider.
“It was awesome,” Brasier said about returning. “I’ve said it multiple times, Fenway is my favorite place to play. There’s nothing like it. And I was excited to come back. A little nervous early on (in the series) but it was all good. I had fun.”
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Brasier — who Boston designated for assignment May 14 and released May 21 — threw 16 pitches (10 strikes). He threw seven four-seam fastballs, averaging 97.2 mph. He added in five sliders, two sinkers and two cutters.
Brasier, who turned 36 on Saturday, added a cutter after he signed with the Dodgers on June 4. It has been an effective pitch for him as he has held opponents to a .227 batting average (.219 expected batting average) when he has thrown it.
“Just working on the cutter and getting my slider where I want it,” Brasier said. “But just trying to pound the strike zone with my best stuff. Results play out as they will but really just trying to fill up the zone.”
