WASHINGTON -- Lucas Giolito's Major League debut was effective, but brief thanks to a one-hour, 25 minute rain delay that forced him from the game.
He allowed a single to the first batter he faced, Curtis Granderson, before he struck out the next batter, Asdrubal Cabrera, on a 95-mph fastball for his first career strikeout. Then Giolito did not allow a hit the rest of the way, as he stifled the Mets' offense through four scoreless innings, with one strikeout and a pair of walks.
Giolito, Major League Baseball's No.1 prospect, had only thrown 45 pitches (29 strikes) through his first four innings, before rain intensified in the bottom of the fourth. As Giolito stood on deck, the game went into a second delay in the middle of Danny Espinosa's at-bat that inning. When the inning resumed, the Nationals chose not to send their top prospect back to the mound, lifting him for a pinch-hitter, Clint Robinson, then sending Yusmeiro Petit to pitch the fifth.
Giolito's mom on his debut
NYM@WSH: Giolito's mom discusses her son's MLB debut
Lucas Giolito's mom, Lindsay Frost, discusses her son's Major League debut vs. the Mets
Giolito became the first pitcher selected by the Nationals in the first round to make his MLB debut with Washington since Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in his first start on June 8, 2010, at Nationals Park. The crowd Tuesday night waited out a 55-minute rain delay prior to first pitch in anticipation of this debut, and from the moment Giolito was shown walking from the bullpen to the Nationals' dugout, the fans erupted into a standing ovation.
Jamal Collier covers the Nationals for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jamalcollier. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire