Chad Dallas made is major league debut Thursday night and he came away with the win in relief as the Blue Jays beat Atlanta 7-2.
Dallas was inserted in the second inning, allowed one run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings.
He not only got the win but he did it against 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale.
“It’s really cool,” Dallas told the media. “Technically I wasn’t facing Sale, I was facing the lineup. But obviously I knew who was starting for the Braves – somebody who has done it at a very high level for a very long time. It’s really cool. I’ll remember that for a long time.”
“He kept his composure,” Manager John Schneider said. “It’s not ideal coming in with a runner at third and one out in your debut. I think we were banking on the character and the confidence – and the stuff, obviously. I think getting out of that inning there set him up to settle down a little there. He was great.”
Dallas added what should’ve been a Top 10 play on Sportscenter. With two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the third, Dom Smith hit a chopper at Dallas who fielded behind his back before he made the toss to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the third out.
“I don’t think I’ve ever made a play like that,” Dallas said. “I actually thought it was [going to] hit somewhere on my back side. So I threw the glove back there thinking maybe it just knocks [the ball] down. I felt it kind of hit the web and I was like ‘Well, I guess I’ll take off running to first now.’ It was all instincts.”
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