In a major league debut, adrenaline will likely pull a player through any nerves he might face. Tonight, Jerry Sands made his debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and figured to have a tough draw against Tim Hudson and the Braves. After all, Hudson has been one of the more successful pitchers in baseball for over a decade. No matter, as Sands hit an opposite field double down the right field line off Hudson in the first inning in his first major league at-bat.
However, more importantly, before Sands came to the plate, the Dodgers hung three runs on Hudson, thanks to hits by Aaron Miles, Matt Kemp, and James Loney. Loney drove in two runs with his single, a key hit for him as he has been struggling mightily at the plate (hitting .199/.265/.309 in his last 89 games).
No, Sands didn't homer in the first pitch he ever saw, like Clise Dudley did for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1929. But a line of 1.000/1.000/2.000 after just one at-bat will do just fine, and will be something Sands can tell his grandchildren years from now.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.