DENVER (AP) – Antonio Senzatela knows exactly what he’s going to do with the baseball from his first major league win – place it on his mother’s grave in Venezuela.
“A gift to my mom,” said Senzatela, who lost his mother to cancer last July.
Senzatela allowed a leadoff homer and then settled down to throw seven sharp innings and help the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Tuesday night.
“He’s got a good heartbeat. His pulse is good. He competes,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s focused and always in a pretty good space.”
The 22-year-old who missed a majority of last season in the minor leagues with shoulder issues relied on a blazing fastball that made things difficult for the Padres. He allowed five hits and two runs while striking out five. The Rockies’ reliable bullpen took it from there, with Adam Ottavino striking out the side in the eighth and Greg Holland working his way around a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn his fifth save.