Chase Anderson wins MLB debut for DBacks
By Matt Fisher
To make your first Major League start in front of your family is impressive. To win your first Major League start on Mother’s Day in front of your mother is memorable.
Chase Anderson had been called up by the Arizona Diamondbacks to make his first MLB start on Sunday, Mother’s Day, against the Chicago White Sox. The youngster was visibly nervous pre-game, as he was seen doing pull-ups on the roof of the Arizona dugout trying to get the jitters out. It looks like it worked.
Anderson had been dealing in Double-A ball, according to Nick Piecoro of AZ Central Sports, putting up a minuscule 0.69 ERA with 38 K and 6 BB in 39 innings pitched. The efficiency and dominance carried over to his start on the South Side of Chicago.
Staked to an early 1-0 lead, Anderson retired the side in order in the bottom of the first, allowed a lead-off single to Jose Abreu, but didn’t have to worry about him on the basepaths as Abreu was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double. He then recorded his first Major League strikeout against Adam Dunn, getting the big guy to strike out swinging on a very dirty looking 2-2 changeup.
All in all, the 26-year old out of Wichita Falls, TX went 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run on a Moises Sierra home run and struck out six. He threw a total of 74 pitches.