Rafael Furcal returns from a sad trip
A subdued but grateful Rafael Furcal returned to the lineup as the Dodgers’ shortstop and leadoff hitter Wednesday after the death of his father.
Furcal had rushed to the Dominican Republic in time to see his father before he died early Sunday from complications from being badly kicked by a horse a month ago.
“He was happy when he saw me,” Furcal said before the Dodgers’ game against the Angels. “He was waiting for me.”
Furcal thanked the Dodgers, who had placed him on the bereavement list, because “they let me go and spend the last days of his life” with him. “I was happy to see him alive” because the doctors had told his family there was nothing they could do.
Before he left the team Thursday, Furcal was playing well and batting .305. He had returned from the disabled list May 25 after suffering a strained left hamstring April 27.
“He was in a good streak when he left,” Manager Joe Torre said. “Hopefully he can fall back into that again.”
Furcal, 32, said he told Torre he wanted to play Wednesday night “because there’s nothing [else] I can do” regarding his father.
As Furcal was activated off the bereavement list, infielder Chin-lung Hu was optioned back to triple-A Albuquerque.
Haeger confident
Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger said he has renewed confidence as he prepares to make his first big league start in more than a month Thursday night against the Angels.
The right-hander, who had been on the disabled list twice because of foot problems, pitched six scoreless innings Sunday in a triple-A rehab start.
“Kind of got in a little bit of a rhythm out there, and I got some confidence back throwing the knuckleball for strikes,” Haeger said. “I think that’s key with me, just being able to throw it over the plate and throw it for strikes. And once I get a bit of a rhythm going, I can go deep in games.”
Haeger opened the season as the Dodgers’ fifth starter but struggled badly before he was hurt, with an 0-4 record and 8.53 ERA.
Still, “I’m happy that I’m getting the opportunity to pitch tomorrow,” he said. “Joe’s been confident in me all season. Even though it’s been a rough start for me, I think that’s just the kind of manager he is.”
Broxton ready
Entering Wednesday’s game, Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton had pitched to only one batter in the previous 10 days, a walkoff single to Boston’s Dustin Pedroia, because of the Dodgers’ five-game losing streak. But the right-hander said he wasn’t concerned.
“I’m getting my throwing in” in the bullpen, “I’m just not facing batters, which is fine,” Broxton said.
Broxton went through a similar phase when the Dodgers struggled through the first month of the season, yet as of Wednesday he had an earned-run average of 0.92 and 16 saves in 18 chances.
And finally
The Dodgers said they would open Dodger Stadium and its parking lot half an hour earlier than normal for the three-game series against the New York Yankees so fans can watch batting practice and to help alleviate traffic congestion. The stadium opens at 4:40 p.m. Friday, 1:40 p.m. Saturday and 2:40 p.m. Sunday.
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