Cleveland Baseball Club pitcher Triston McKenzie struck out 10 batters and came away with his first win in his MLB debut Saturday.
Well this should sound familiar, a Cleveland pitcher made a dominant start in 2020. Triston McKenzie struck out 10 batters in his MLB debut and won the first game of his career in Saturday’s 6-1 win.
McKenzie’s 10 strikeouts were the second-highest for a Cleveland pitcher in their MLB debut, only Luis Tiant struck out more (11).
Triston McKenzie allowed only 1 run on 2 hits in 6 innings, that run came in the 4th inning when former Cleveland prospect Willi Castro hit a solo home run. The only other hit allowed by McKenzie was a Jeimer Candelario double in the 5th inning.
The Cleveland offense immediately after McKenzie pitched his final inning. Cleveland scored 4 runs in the 6th inning, 3 of which came on a bases loaded double from Domingo Santana. Roberto Perez would drive in Santana with an RBI single shortly after. Carlos Santana would add another run in the 7th with a sacrifice fly. A Cesar Hernandez RBI single in the 8th would give Cleveland a comfortable 6-1 lead.
The bullpen was able to preserve the game after Triston McKenzie exited after the 6th inning. Nick Wittgren and James Karinchak did not allow a baserunner and struck out 3 batters. Adam Cimber pitched the 9th inning, allowing a double to Victor Reyes but he did not come around to score.
