Anyone who watched Saturday’s game between the Dodgers and the Rockies at Coors Field in Denver witnessed firsthand what was unquestionably the best pitching performance of 26-year-old Alex Wood‘s five-year MLB career. Not only did the Charlotte, North Carolina native allow no runs on five hits and only one walk, he also struck out 10 batters in only six innings pitched.

As every baseball fan knows, tossing a shutout at mile-high Coors Field is no easy task, not ever. Yet Wood and Messrs. Josh Fields, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen (in a non-save situation) did exactly that in Saturday’s 4-0 win over the NL West-leading Rockies. But what made Wood’s strong six-inning / 10-K performance even more incredible is that it was his second consecutive 10+ strikeout game in six innings or less.

Why is that significant, you ask?

Because Wood joins Andy Benes (2000) and Jon Lester (2010) as the only other major league pitcher since 1893 to collect wins in consecutive games of no more than six innings pitched while striking out at least 10 batters in both. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau).

Dodger fans are beginning to look forward to Woodday as much as they do Kershday … well, almost.
(Photo credit – David Zalubowski)

“You just have enough bad ones here and you’ll eventually have a good one,” Wood joked with reporters, after his outstanding performance on Saturday. “The execution was there. This is a tough place. You never know what your ball’s going to do out of your hand, and I felt like I was able to command it pretty good tonight, and that was the difference for sure.”

Although some may question why Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t allow his soft-spoken, good-humored left-hander to go longer (he made 88 pitches, 60 for strikes), the simple fact is that because Wood began the season out of the Dodgers bullpen, he is still being stretched out as a starter; a role that he undoubtedly will remain in. What’s the secret to his success?

“He’s got a funky angle coming in to them, and he does a nice job changing eye levels and using all quadrants,” Roberts said. “He’s got a fastball 92-94 mph, he’s got a changeup that’s plus and he keeps it down, and he’s got a [knuckle curve]. In all these pitches, he’s got a good way of ‘coming out of the same window,’ as we call it. So as a hitter, you have a three-pitch mix and it all looks the same. It’s tough to adjust.”

In addition to his 10 strikeouts, Wood also induced six ground-ball outs, including one made by Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner to rob Rockies shortstop (and Santa Clarita, California native) Pat Valaika of extra bases and throwing him out from his knees.

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On the season Wood is now 4-0 with a stellar 2.27 ERA, second only to fellow left-hander Julio Urias‘ ridiculous 1.06 ERA but in twice as many starts. He has also now struck out 48 batters, second to only Clayton Kershaw‘s team-leading 57 Ks but in two fewer starts. Wood also owns a phenomenal K/9 ratio of 12.11, tops among all Dodger starters and second only to Dodger closer Kenley Jansen’s absolutely insane 17.18 K/9 ratio.

When you add all of this up, Dodger fans now eagerly await every upcoming Woodday, just as they have long done for Kershday.

…and that’s a very good thing.