Even major league pitchers surely fall asleep the night before their start and dream of what's to come.
Toronto Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage was one of the most promising prospects in baseball before his call up to MLB in September, and he knew he was getting the ball for Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees.
But even he couldn't have dreamed this, could he?
Yesavage struck out 11 batters in 5.1 shutout innings. The Yankees couldn't touch him.
When he left the game, it was to a standing ovation that lasted so long that he got a curtain call, too.
It doesn't get much better than that.
The records he set, all shared by MLB Network's Sarah Langs, are epic:
- Third Blue Jays pitcher to strike out the side in the first inning of a playoff game
- Second-youngest pitcher with 10+ strikeouts in a postseason game
- Blue Jays franchise record for strikeouts in a playoff game
- Tied for most consecutive strikeouts (6) in a playoff game
- Fifth-most strikeouts by a rookie in a playoff game
The Blue Jays played it safe with Yesavage most of the year. He was in Triple-A Buffalo until September.
They weren't even sure whether he'd be a starter or a reliever when the postseason rolled around. But he showed enough in September to earn this start, and he'll surely be getting another one.
It certainly didn't hurt that Yesavage got all the run support he could've ever wanted, too.
But when he was on the mound, Toronto's offense didn't matter. Yesavage wasn't going to give up any runs anyway.
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