THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL July 12: Mets deal closer Francisco Rodriguez
Untapped New York, NY Post, Latino Baseball Illustration
Saving 23 games before the All-Star Game apparently wasn’t good enough.
On this day in béisbol, July 12, 2011, the New York Mets dealt closer Francisco Rodriguez and cash to the Brewers for two players to be named later.
The move forced K-Rod out of his familiar closer role, but he would become a solid set-up man with Milwaukee where he went 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA the rest of the way.
Rodriguez, from Caracas, Venezuela, would become an elite closer again three years later in a second stint with Milwaukee, when he saved 44 games I in 2014.
Also on this day: White Sox pitcher Melido Perez no-hits the Yankees at The Stadium in an 8-0, rain shortened game that only went six innings. Melido’s brother Perez, playing for the Yankees, pitched a five inning-no hitter in 1988 against the Phillies.
— Robert Dominguez
Robert Dominguez is co-author of “Bronx Bummers: The Unofficial History of the New York Yankees’ Bad Boys, Blunders and Brawls” and writer of the upcoming “El Salón: The Trials and Triumphs of Baseball’s Latino Hall of Famers.”
Photo: Keith Allison – Under Creative Commons License
