Wolf Makes Postseason Debut Tonight vs. Cardinals
10/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MALIBU, Calif. - As was earlier mentioned this morning in Jerry Crowe's L.A. Times column, Randy Wolf tonight becomes the second Pepperdine Wave ever to start the first game of a postseason series. The first was Mike Scott, who twice beat the Mets during the 1986 National League Championship Series in games one and four.
Wolf was the most depenable starter for the Dodgers this season, finishing with an 11-7 win-loss record, 3.23 ERA and 160 strikeouts. The Waves' 1997 All-American also led the Dodgers in innings pitched (214.1), and the club posted a 22-12 record in his starts.
He went 6-1 in his last 10 starts with a 2.54 ERA after beginning 2009 with 12 no-decisions through his first 18 starts.
Wednesday night's start will be Wolf's first postseason outing of his career.
"[It feels] exciting - it's been a long road," Wolf, a Canoga Park, Calif., native told MLB.com. "Obviously, this is my 11th year and my first postseason appearance ... It's really exciting to do it at home."
"He's going to wear his heart on his sleeves," added Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "You'll see emotions. You'll see him snatch the ball back from [catcher] Russell Marting, and I think that's why the way he is. ... He seems excited and I'm sure he's going to have a lot of butterflies."
Wolf was solid in his lone start against the Cardinals this season, giving up two runs through six innings in an eventual 6-1 loss at Busch Stadium. In his career against the Redbirds, Wolf is 3-5 with a 3.64 ERA.
Unfortunately for Wolf, his mound opponent in game one is former Cy Young Award-winner Chris Carpenter, who has flat out dominated the Dodgers. Carpenter sports a career 5-0 record through six starts vs. Los Angeles with a 2.20 ERA. Two of those wins came this season.
"It's going to be a battle," Wolf said. "If I execute what I want to execute, go out there and throw strikes, I think I'll give this team a chance to win."
First pitch at Chavez Ravine is scheduled for 6:37 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on TBS and ESPN Radio.
Information from MLB.com was used in this release.
