11:04 PM ET
Jeff PassanESPN
CloseESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of one of the most Valuable Commodity in Sports”
ARLINGTON, Texas– Atlanta Braves left-hander A.J. Minter made history with his very first profession start on Friday in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Then he made it once again with his performance.
After ending up being the first Major League Baseball pitcher to make his starting launching in a postseason game, Minter struck out 7 Los Angeles Dodgers over three innings, the most ever in a playoff getaway of three or less innings, starter or reducer.
The Dodgers won 7-3 to require Game 6.
Minter, who was not revealed as the Braves starter up until Friday morning, was a lockdown reliever for the Braves this season however had actually not lasted more than 1 2/3 innings or 36 pitches in an outing. He left Game 5 having allowed one hit, no walks and no runs over 42 pitches.
” Minter did an astounding task,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “How great he was, it was tough to take him out. He was truly efficient those three [innings] He cleared the tank the last inning, an inning more than I thought we d get out of him.”
Snitker had designated Minter as his opener– a high-leverage relief pitcher who normally tosses the very first inning to face the top of the order. Minter made it all the way back around to leadoff player Mookie Betts, whom he set out looking to cap an inning in which he set out the side– all looking– and a five-batter stretch in which he punched out Cody Bellinger, A.J. Pollock, Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor and Betts.
“He went above and beyond,” Snitker stated.
Minter, 27, last began at Texas A&M, where he participated in college, in 2015. In his final start for the Aggies, he injured his elbow and needed Tommy John surgical treatment.
In the regular season, Minter started out 24 in 21 2/3 innings.
His three-pitch mix– a 95 to 97 miles per hour fastball, a hard slider and a changeup– vexed the Dodgers. Their starter, Dustin May, who really is a starter, was taken out after two innings as Los Angeles tracked 2-0.
” Minter did an incredible task,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “How good he was, it was tough to take him out. He cleared the tank the last inning, an inning more than I believed we d get out of him.”
