Watch: Yadier Molina records first strikeout of his MLB career (Video)
By Scott Rogust
In his 19th MLB season, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina recorded the first strikeout of his career.
The St. Louis Cardinals entered Wednesday, June 8 looking to avenge their 4-2 tenth-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The thing is, the Cardinals were blown out by the AL East team, as they trailed 11-3 in the eighth inning. That meant St. Louis entered “position player pitching” territory.
Manager Oliver Marmol called upon none other than catcher Yadier Molina to throw some pitches. In his 19-year career, Molina had never recorded a strikeout. That all changed, as he caused Isaac Paredes on three pitches.
Yadier Molina records first strikeout of his career
Molina was pumped after he got Paredes to swing at a 76-mph changeup. Albert Pujols was caught on camera smiling, laughing and clapping after watching his longtime Cardinals teammate record his first strikeout from the mound.
As it turns out, Molina was the only St. Louis pitcher not to surrender a run on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out.
With this loss, the Cardinals have officially lost the three-game series. But fans will have the memory of Molina making some history.