The Los Angeles Dodgers series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Chase Field was a wild one, as All-Star closer Kenley Jansen blew a three-run lead with two outs in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings.
After Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to pinch-hit for Ross Stripling in the top of the 11th, the only arm left in the Dodgers bullpen was right-hander Wilmer Font, who threw an inning the day before in the win over the San Francisco Giants.
Font, who had a rough Spring Training and was really only included on the Opening Day roster because he was out of Minor League options, proceed to do what no one could have expected.
He kept the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard for four innings, giving the Dodgers ample opportunity to claw out a win. Ultimately it did not end up working out, as Font was given a lead in the top of the 15th but could not hold it in his fifth inning of work as he simply ran out of gas, resulting in the 8-7 loss.
While it did not work out in the Dodgers’ favor, manager Dave Roberts was still very complimentary of the performance Font gave, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“You don’t know what to expect,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of turning to Font. “That was a situation where you’re the last guy in the ’pen. He’s never been in that situation. For him to step up like he did for 4-1/3 – just a gutty performance and picked up our entire ballclub.
“He threw 29 pitches yesterday (in one inning) and came back to throw 70 tonight. Remarkable.”
Throwing 74 pitches in four-plus innings on zero days of rest is not something you see often, although Font claims that he didn’t feel tired and was up for the challenge:
“Despite all the innings, I didn’t feel tired,” Font said through an interpreter. “I’m used to it. Last year, I was a starter.
“When I woke up (after pitching Sunday), I was trying to gauge whether I would feel any soreness from yesterday. I didn’t so I told the manager I could pitch in this game.”
Even though the Diamondbacks came away with a walk-off win, Font more than answered the call. And he could become the latest to prove that Spring Training results are largely meaningless.
