Dodgers reliever has long-awaited reunion, pitches scoreless inning vs. Tigers
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol saw his mother for the first time in seven years on Sunday.
Tuesday night, he got to pitch in front of her on a major league diamond for the first time.
The 25-year-old set down the Detroit Tigers in order in the top of the eighth inning on 13 pitches, including nine strikes. The outing continued what has been a career year for Graterol.
The fifth-year pro is 4-2 with career bests in ERA (1.28), saves (seven) and strikeouts (45) while producing a 1.02 WHIP across 63 1/3 innings pitched in 64 games. Graterol leads the team in games and ERA among other categories.
He has pitched 21 consecutive scoreless innings, which is a Dodgers season high according to an Associated Press and ESPN report.
Per the report, the righty said the process of getting his mother, Ysmalia, from Venezuela to the United States started "gaining momentum the past two weeks after getting one important document that sped up the process."
According to the report, Ysmalia missed the 2020 World Series champion's wedding and the birth of his daughter but is "making up for lost time."
The reliever told reporters that his mom will be staying at least through the end of the postseason.
The Dodgers (93-57) have won five in a row and clinched their 10th NL West title in the last 11 years.
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