Jaime Garcia … “A Travelin’ Man”
On this date (August 4) in 2017, southpaw Jaime Garcia (in his ninth MLB season) started on the mound for the New York Yankees (in Cleveland). It was a bit of a disappointment, as Garcia lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks (four strikeouts). He took the loss.
Still, there was a bit of history made on that day. It was Garcia’s third start in fifteen days (not an unusual schedule). What was unusual was that Garcia had made each of those starts for a different team (and all three on the road). The starts went like this:
- July 21, Garcia started for the Atlanta Braves (the team he opened the season with), went seven innings (seven hits, three earned runs, one walk, four whiffs) and picked up a win versus the Dodgers. That was Garcia 18th start for the Braves that season and he had posted a 4-7, 4.30 record.
On July 24, Garcia was traded to the Twins (with Anthony Recker) for Huascar Ynoa.
- July 28 … Garcia started for the Minnesota Twins (at Oakland) and went 6 2/3 innings, giving up eight hits and three runs (three walks, seven strikeouts) – picking up another win.
On July 30, after just that appearance for the Twins, Garcia is traded to the Yankees for Dietrich Enns and Zack Littell.
- August 4 … the above noted start (and loss) for the Yankees.
Perhaps Garcia could have packed an overnight bag, instead of a suitcase.
Garcia finished the season with the Yankees – going 0-3, 4.82 in eight starts. For the season, Garcia went 5-10, 4.41.
Elias Sports Bureau reports that Garcia was the first MLB pitcher with starts for three different teams in 15 days.
Garcia, who retired before the 2019 season, pitched in 10 MLB seasons, going 70-62, 3.85 in 218 appearances (188 starts). He spent his first eight MLB seasons with the Cardinals (2008, 2019-16) and, over his final two campaigns, pitched for the Braves, Twins, Yankees, Blue Jays and Cubs. His best season was 2010, when he went 13-8, 2.70 in 28 starts for the Cardinals and finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting.
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