PHOENIX -- A small tweak in D-backs right-hander Daniel Hudson's mechanics paid dividends Friday against the Royals.
Arizona pitching coach Mike Butcher talked with Hudson after he gave up a run on two hits and hit a batter on March 8 against the Angels.
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"It's something very subtle, where he thought I was not necessarily having a slow leg kick, but kind of taking my time with my leg kick, and it was causing me to float or coast down the mound," Hudson said. "So we worked on trying to have a little quicker tempo with that part. So that way I'm really loading up quick and it forces me to use the mound more to my advantage instead of just falling down it."
That allows Hudson not only to have a quicker delivery when there are runners on base, but also to get on top of the ball more making his breaking ball sharper.
Trying the adjustments for the first time in a game, Hudson worked a 1-2-3 inning and struck out two.
"Warming up in the bullpen, everything was great," Hudson said. "But I was focusing on it so I tried to make sure I wasn't thinking about too much out there so I could just pitch. I kind of transitioned into it and everything clicked and worked well."