The Cleveland Indians lost a game to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday in the middle of the American League wild-card chase, but the day still counted as a huge success. That’s because Carlos Carrasco returned from his leukemia diagnosis to pitch an inning of relief.
Players from both teams gave Carrasco a standing ovation as he took the mound. He threw 19 pitches and allowed a run on two hits in completing the seventh inning.
What a moment 🙌
Carlos Carrasco takes the mound for the first time since being diagnosed with leukemia in June, and receives a standing ovation from players on both teams. pic.twitter.com/XY9YWAyFhx
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2019
The hard road back
Pitchers rehab from serious injuries all the time, and that takes a high level of commitment and persistence, too, but this one felt a little different.
About a month after his diagnosis, doctors told Carrasco he could continue pitching as long as he felt up to it. He has a treatable form of cancer called chronic myeloid leukemia.
He immediately began to build up his strength, reached minor-league rehab assignments in August and finally returned to the Majors when rosters expanded Sunday.
Baseball. 🥺#CookieStrong pic.twitter.com/KRbwnHNi4p
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) September 1, 2019
Appreciation from both sides
Carrasco didn’t have a clean outing, but that hardly mattered. After players from both teams cheered him, Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor gave him a hug.
After the inning, Lindor gave him the ball from the third out.
“Even the other team came out. My teammates, that was great because they have supported me from day one to now,” Carrasco said, according to ESPN.com. “It’s unbelievable.”
Here’s to more outings, more ovations and more healthy days for Carlos Carrasco.
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