Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rowdy Tellez didn't take a swing in the team's 16-1 Friday night win over the Miami Marlins, but still had a performance to be remembered.
With the game out of hand, manager Craig Counsell turned to Tellez to finish off the team's victory, which clinched a postseason trip for the fifth time in six years. «Cy Young candidate, y'know,» Tellez said after throwing a scoreless ninth inning, in which he allowed one hit, one walk and earned a strikeout of Jesus Sanchez, who swung and missed on a 63 mph fastball.
Tellez said his appearance on the mound came after a quick conversation with Counsell, who asked in the seventh inning if the 6-foot-4, 270-pound slugger can throw strikes. «I said yes.
Absolutely,» Tellez recounted. Despite having to borrow left-hander Wade Miley's glove, Tellez said he didn't have any nerves and drew inspiration from a Hall of Fame pitcher. «Sit on the corners, watch [Greg] Maddux work,» Tellez said he told catcher Victor Caratini. «They're already tweeting Cy Young candidate,» Tellez jokingly told a teammate.