ANAHEIM, Calif. —
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“Just a big-time game,” Joyce said. “A lot of fans were all into it, so I feel like that kind of helped a little bit. … You could feel it the whole time. The stadium was almost shaking at times. It was a cool environment, for sure.”
Joyce’s 1-2-3 ninth kept the score tied 2-2 before the Dodgers rallied to win in the 10th against reliever Roansy Contreras.
“It was two strikes, [so] I just tried to give it everything I had,” Joyce said of his 105.5 mph pitch. “I didn’t really notice the difference [compared to other fastballs]. I thought I threw a few other ones harder, to be honest, so it was kind of surprising to see that [on the scoreboard].”
Joyce smiled to himself after seeing the speed on the scoreboard while leaving the mound.
“Oh my goodness,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m just happy that I was 90 feet away from the batter’s box. That’s uncomfortable.”
Only Chapman, Hicks and Jhoan Duran had thrown pitches recorded at 104.5 mph or faster in this era before they were joined this season by Joyce, who pitched 10 innings for the Angels in 2023. He has been excellent in his second season in the majors, posting a 2.08 ERA in 31 appearances.
And even after his latest triple-digit feat, Joyce says he believes he has more speed in his future.
“I would like to think I could throw a little harder,” Joyce said with a grin.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
