Locals In MLB: Porter Hodge Earns First Save Against Potent Dodgers
Apr 23, 2025, 8:11 PM
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 29: Relief pitcher Porter Hodge #37 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after the final out during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 29, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, Illinois – Former Cottonwood Colt Porter Hodge cut down reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani on his way to earning his first save of 2025, helping the Chicago Cubs sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hodge kept the Dodgers off the scoreboard in the tenth inning on Tuesday, before locking down his first save of 2025 with a 1-2-3 ninth against the early World Series favorite.
Porter Hodge gets Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts to close out the win for the @Cubs 💪 pic.twitter.com/vov3zcXMc0
— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2025
A day after Hodge came on in extra innings and kept courtesy runner Tommy Edman from scoring in an eventual Cubs walkoff win, he got the final three outs of another tight win.
After getting nine-hole hitter Austin Barnes to line out, a nasty slider got Ohtani to chase strike three. He followed it by inducing eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts into a harmless flyout to end the game.
RELATED STORIES
Porter Hodge | RHP | Cottonwood Colts
MLB – Chicago Cubs
2025 Stats: 13 Games | 2-0 | 5.68 ERA | 12.2 IP | 5 HLD | SV | 15 Ks | 5 BBs | 1.34 WHIP
2024 MLB Stats: 39 Games | 3-1 | 1.88 ERA | 43 IP | 9 SV | 9 HLD | 52 Ks | 19 BBs | 0.89 WHIP
A nightmare eighth inning with the wind blowing out at Wrigley cost Hodge a chance at April’s reliever of the month. The Arizona Diamondbacks pounded Hodge for four hits and six runs in a ten-run inning. The day, combined with an early-season small sample size, gives the second-year reliever a bloated 6.17 ERA.
Ten of Hodge’s 13 appearances have been scoreless as he appears to get stronger throughout April.
RELATED: Former Cottonwood Pitcher Set To Open Season As Key Cog In Cubs Bullpen
Pic I took of Carson Kelly and Porter Hodge arriving at Wrigley Field today pic.twitter.com/B64Cm6Yz3d
— Sam Bernero (@sambernero) April 23, 2025
The right-handed Hodge was a two-time state champ at Cottonwood High. A four-year varsity starter, Hodge finished with a 1.50 ERA in 130.2 innings across 30 games.
The Chicago Cubs selected Hodge out of high school in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB draft. He advanced to Double-A Tennessee in 2023, finishing with a 6-7 record and a 5.13 ERA in 80.2 innings.
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