Brandon Williamson makes his second Major League and first home appearance tonight when the Cincinnati Reds host the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ballpark. Game time is 5:40 p.m. Minnesota time.
In his first career start vs. the Colorado Rockies last Tuesday in Denver, the Martin County West graduate became only the 10th visiting pitcher to make his Major League debut with a start at Coors Field, the first since Hou’s José Urquidy on July 2, 2019.
Williamson had a stretch in the second through fifth innings where he retired 14 straight batters, becoming only the fourth Reds pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 14 consecutive batters in his Major League debut,
According to the Elias Sports Bureau he joins Wayne Simpson (16 vs. the Dodgers, 1970), Rob Bell (16 vs. the Cubs, 2000) and Johnny Cueto (15 vs. the Diamondbacks, 2008).
He allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon, the first career batter he faced, but then didn’t allow another hit until Ezequiel Tovar’s solo home run in the sixth inning.
After tonight, Williamson is scheduled to start again in Chicago Saturday vs. the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Williamson is now on at least one fantasy league baseball team. Wonder if there are more, especially in Martin County?