Toronto Blue Jays lefty Mason Fluharty speaks on his first big league save against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Photo credit: https://torontosun.com/
23-year old rookie Mason Fluharty had the pitching performance of the season for the Toronto Blue Jays.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, he came in for closer Jeff Hoffman, facing Shohei Ohtani.
After going up 1-2 in the count, Ohtani battled back to make it 3-2, meaning a ball would have tied the game.
On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Fluharty threw a nasty 83 mph sweeper to get Ohtani to swing and miss. Mookie Betts promptly grounded out to end the game, it was a great performance for Fluharty's first career save.
HIS NAME IS MASON FLUHARTY 😤
He strikes out Shohei Ohtani and gets Mookie Betts to ground out to close out the Dodgers 💪
He strikes out Shohei Ohtani and gets Mookie Betts to ground out to close out the Dodgers 💪
Even the umpires couldn't beat Fluharty on this day.
This check swing by Shohei Ohtani was ruled no swing by the umpires. The Toronto Blue Jays were not happy about it 👀
The 23-year old Fluharty reaching new unbelievable milestones along the way.
Mason Fluharty of the @BlueJays recorded his first MLB save by retiring two batters, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, with the bases loaded. The last MLB save which saw two former MVPs retired with the bases loaded was by Trevor Hoffman on 9/15/02 (Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent).
Blue Jays left-handed reliever Mason Fluharty talks about his mindset heading into a high-leverage bases loaded situation against the Dodgers
Fluharty is now at a 5.15 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 43.2 innings while collecting a save and four holds.
He's mostly served in a low-leverage role this year, he was only called upon for this save chance because he was one of two relievers left in the bullpen after the Blue Jays had to empty the tank due to Eric Lauer's poor start.
Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling caught up with Fluharty after the game and spoke with him about his first career save against the reigning world champs.
Fluharty says pitching in big spots like Sunday's has helped him "feel like I really can believe in myself; it gives me the confidence to just go be me.
And not think. Moving forward, just keeping the same mentality. Going out there and blacking out every time, hopefully."
And not think. Moving forward, just keeping the same mentality. Going out there and blacking out every time, hopefully."
Mason Fluharty on his thought process in Sunday's 9th: "No thinking, no thinking. Just go out there and do it.
I was super excited, super pumped. I honestly blacked out. I have no idea what happened out there. I just trusted my pitches, attacked guys. That's all you can do."
I was super excited, super pumped. I honestly blacked out. I have no idea what happened out there. I just trusted my pitches, attacked guys. That's all you can do."
After using seven relievers on Sunday, the Blue Jays get a much-needed off-day on Monday before returning home to host the Chicago Cubs for a three-game series.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 10 | 246 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays lefty Mason Fluharty speaks on his first big league save against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Do you think lefty Mason Fluharty should get more high leverage situations for the Blue Jays going forward? | ||
| Yes | 180 | 73.2 % |
| No | 23 | 9.3 % |
| Too early to tell | 43 | 17.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
