Dodgers reliever pitches scoreless inning vs. Tigers

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers reliever has long-awaited reunion, pitches scoreless inning vs. Tigers

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 9/20/23

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.

Brusdar Graterol was clearly emotional coming off the mound and hugged Dave Roberts. Several teammates and support staff came over and greeted him on the bench. https://t.co/8VMlC8DPlc
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 20, 2023

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."

#Dodgers Brusdar Graterol's mother, Ysmalia, on finally seeing her son for the first time in seven years: “It was really emotional. Because I hadn’t seen him in seven years. I sent him off on a plane as a kid and now he’s this huge human that I got a chance to hug on Sunday.”
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) September 20, 2023

Brusdar Graterol said he felt “paralyzed” when he and his mother, Ysmalia, were reunited on Sunday. They hadn’t seen each other in person in seven years. He didn’t know what to say.

“I told her she smelled like home.”

On an emotional night at the park: https://t.co/BDl2drkskv
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 20, 2023

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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