From Staff & Wire Reports
Hunter Stratton (Sullivan East) and Evan Carter (Elizabethton) both saw the field on Major League Baseball's Opening Day and the Northeast Tennessee natives helped their respective teams prevail.
Stratton was the third of seven pitchers used for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their 6-5, 12-inning road win over the Miami Marlins.
The 27-year-old right-hander pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowed no runs on one hit, did not issue a walk and plunked a batter with a pitch.
Taking over to begin the bottom of the seventh inning, Stratton hit Josh Bell with a pitch, struck out Bryan De La Cruz, got Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a flyout and then allowed a single to Jake Burger.
That’s when Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton called in Ryan Borucki from the bullpen. Borucki escaped the jam.
Stratton was one of three guys who once played for the Appalachian League’s Bristol Pirates to pitch for Pittsburgh on Thursday. Mitch Keller started and Luis L. Ortiz got the win.
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Stratton was the first local pitcher to take the mound on Opening Day since Daniel Norris (Science Hill) did so for the Chicago Cubs on April 7, 2022.
Meanwhile, Carter started in left field for the Texas Rangers in their 4-3, 10-inning win over the Chicago Cubs.
Hitting eighth in the order, he was 0-for-3 with a walk.
Carter flied out in the third, reached on a fielder’s choice in the fifth, lined out in the seventh and walked in the ninth.
He was first local in the pros to start on MLB Opening Day since Kevin Barker (Virginia High) manned first base for the Milwaukee Brewers on April 3, 2000, against the Cincinnati Reds.
Both Stratton and Carter made their MLB debuts in September 2023.
Carter played a starring role in the postseason as the Rangers won the World Series.
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