Dodgers praise mound work after soccer events

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano said he wasn't aware of any difference in the Dodger Stadium mound Friday night, which is exactly what Eric Hansen was hoping for.

Hansen, the stadium's head groundskeeper, and his crew had the responsibility of tearing apart the mound after the last homestand so Dodger Stadium could host two international friendly soccer matches, then rebuild it in time for Friday night's series opener.

The jackhammers started demolition shortly after the previous home game July 31. Hansen said it took a two-man crew four days to rebuild, finishing Wednesday.

"It felt normal to me," Capuano said. "I wasn't aware of anything. I knew we had soccer games, but I didn't think about it at all, that's how good a job they did."

"That's the whole idea with an event like that," Hansen said. "You don't even want them to know it happened."

Hansen said he couldn't remember another time when the mound was removed and replaced during a season.