1st leg Baltimore started with a runner on second base according to the game rules in the top of the 10th inning. The visiting team, which usually attacks first, does not attempt a bunt even if there is a runner on second base. Because even if you draw one point, victory is not guaranteed. But Baltimore focused on advancing the runner from second base to third base with Adam Frazier’s bunt.무지개벳
Frazier’s bunt was successful, and Baltimore’s next hitter, Colton Cowser, hit a sacrifice fly that called in a runner on third base. But no more points were scored. Nevertheless, the Baltimore dugout showed confidence that ‘one point is enough’. It was because of the finisher Felix Batista.
Batista, who came up at the end of the 9th inning and finished the inning with 9 balls, also took the mound at the end of the 10th inning. Likewise, he started with a runner on second base. Batista seemed to be shaking by sending out the first batter, Luke Reilly, with a body-fitting ball. But the Baltimore players’ expressions were still calm. He seemed to believe in Batista.
Batista reciprocated the trust. He struck out Sarena as Randia and then turned Brandon Lau into a double stroke to end the game in seconds. At the end of the 10th inning, the number of pitches was 6, less than the 9th.
Batista, who became the winning pitcher in Game 1, maintained a lead by one point and two points in Games 3 and 4, respectively. In Game 4, there was resistance from Tampa Bay (two hits), but all three out counts were struck out. Batista’s series record was 3 games, 1 win, 2 saves, 4 scoreless innings and 8 strikeouts. If this confrontation were in the postseason, it would have been no problem to be selected as the series MVP.
Baltimore this season has an absolute role for Batista. There were many games that were won with baseball that was protected by a strong bullpen. If the pitcher who should be responsible for the last out count hadn’t played that role properly, Baltimore’s voyage would have gone astray from the beginning. Thanks to Batista’s centralization of the bullpen, other bullpen pitchers were able to secure their positions.
Batista hadn’t stepped on the mound in the major leagues just two years ago. Going even further back in 2015, the 20-year-old Batista was released from the team. It was a difficult situation to imagine now.
Originally, Batista was discovered by the Miami Marlins first. Miami recognized Batista’s talent and signed him. However, when Batista could not adapt to the rookie league, he quickly gave up. In the Dominican Summer League, Batista’s performance was 17 runs and 20 walks in 12⅓ innings. In 2015, Batista left baseball to spend time at home.
He didn’t play baseball, but he didn’t erase baseball. According to the Baltimore Sun, that year Batista was watching a beauty pageant in the Dominican Republic with his mother. Clarissa Molina, who won the competition, said in a speech about her feelings, “If anyone wants a dream, they must fight for it. Only then can they come true.” “This is the advice you most need right now,” her mother told the pensive Batista.
Re-motivated, Batista returned to baseball. Among the three options, Batista chose to join Baltimore. Baltimore trained Batista with patience. Batista, too, did not give up and stood up again, thinking of his mother whenever it was difficult.
Batista did not get out of the rookie league even in 2018. In 2019, I played in Single A, but in 2020, the minor league was completely canceled due to Corona 19, so I wasted another time.
In 2021, Batista gained momentum and went up to Triple A. And last year, he finally made the major league roster. In his debut on April 11, he pitched as the second pitcher behind starter Tyler Wells, pitching 1⅓ scoreless innings. The first opponent Batista met was none other than Tampa Bay. Batista struck out Wander Franco for the first time in the major leagues and Ji-man Choi recorded the first major league hit. Meanwhile, Batista’s major league debut coincided with his mother’s birthday. His first strikeout ball was a birthday present for his mother.
Midway through last season, Baltimore sent closer Jorge Lopez to the Minnesota Twins. Then, naturally, Batista inherited the finishing position. Batista had a successful run at the finish before breaking away with an injury to his left knee.
Batista averages a four-seam fastball speed of 99.3 miles. His best speed was 103.4 miles. The 100 mile ball from the 2 meter tall (203 cm) was more threatening. Although his four-seam ratio is over 70% this year, his pitches are so powerful that batters are helpless (hit rate 0.144). On top of that, a falling splitter with an average speed of 88.3 mph further confused hitters.
Equipped with two top-notch pitches, Batista is striking out. With 96 strikeouts in 49 innings, the conversion rate per 9 innings is 17.63. The major league bullpen pitcher who holds the record for most strikeouts per nine innings in a single season was Aroldis Chapman in 2014. At the time, Chapman struck out 106 in 54 innings, 17.67 per 9 innings. It’s a level that Batista can overcome enough.”