Adams feels fine after longest outing in four years

PHOENIX -- Phillies right-hander Mike Adams hadn't pitched two innings in relief since June 6, 2010 against Philadelphia when he was with the San Diego Padres.

But Adams went two innings on Thursday night in Los Angeles and got the victory, even though he allowed a game-tying home run. He struck out three and has looked strong despite making his season debut on April 18 after completing his right shoulder surgery rehabilitation.

"I feel fine. I was able to keep my pitch count down," Adams said. "I've found a routine that's working for me right now and I'm just trying to stick to the plan."

Adams said pitch count aside, he was needed for another inning so he worked the eighth against the Dodgers and shut them down.

"Really impressed with his command and his quality of pitches and he's down in the zone. Looks real tough on right-handed pitchers for sure," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said of Adams. "Threw some good sliders right out of the bullpen. Real effective with that, but he's throwing strikes, he's ahead of the hitters and from what I've seen, some hitters have had a hard time picking him up."

Sandberg attributed that to the "herky-jerky" nature of Adams' delivery and how he hides the ball, along with good pitch location.

Adams being in a groove isn't a good sign for National League West opponents. Adams, who Sandberg said was available out of the bullpen Friday despite his long outing, entered the Arizona series with a 1.27 career ERA against the division. It's the lowest ERA of any pitcher in Major League history against the NL West, with a minimum of 110 innings pitched.

NL West batters were hitting just .163 against Adams in his career going into Friday's game.

"It's always been fun pitching on the West Coast," Adams said. "The weather's a lot different. You don't tire out as easily. Other than here [Chase Field] and Colorado, the air is not so thin and there's bigger ballparks."