Minor League Baseball

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie righthander James McDonald is flourishing in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

McDonald threw 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball in game 2 of the National League Championship against the Phillies in one of the most difficult stadiums to pitch in.

Citizens Bank Park is difficult to pitch in dimension wise and fan wise. The parks porches are short and on a windy night the ball can fly out of the stadium and the fans in Philadelphia are tough to handle, I should know, I am one.

It is not easy for pitchers, especially rookies, to pitch there during the regular season let alone the postseason.

McDonald grabbed the final roster spot for the Dodgers before the NLDS started over Tanyon Sturtze, who has been bothered by arm problems, and kept his spot on the NLCS roster.

Manager Joe Torre is impressed with McDonald’s poise and confidence that he exhibited in his game 2 outing.

McDonald made stops at Double-A Jacksonville and then Triple-A Las Vegas before being called up in September to make his Major League debut.