RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Brett Anderson was told by the Dodgers not to worry about any fielding plays that weren’t hit directly at him.
That made sense, since Thursday’s rehabilitation assignment with the high Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes was the Dodgers pitcher’s first game action since undergoing back surgery in March.
But the fifth batter of the game hit a slow chopper halfway up the third-base line.
“My instincts took over,” Anderson said.
He sprinted off the mound, fielded the ball and threw the runner out at first.
The Dodgers could exhale that Anderson had seemingly passed an unanticipated test.