Taiwanese pitcher Wang Chien-ming made a strong comeback on Saturday as he took the pitcher’s mound in the Kansas City Royals’ fourth game of the season.
The 36-year old reliever was called to pitch in the ninth inning, when the Royals were leading by seven points. Wang walked one batter and sent three others out in the ninth inning with his trademark sinker. The Royals’ beat the Minnesota Twins 7-0 in Kansas City, Missouri.
This was Wang’s first major league game in 959 days or since Aug. 25, 2013. He was one of the last additions to the Major League team’s 25-man roster this year. Wang told reporters he was happy to be on the mound again. He pitched a total of 22 balls, all sinkers, gaining 13 strikes and allowing no hits.
When Wang faced Byung Ho Park, who hit a homer in his major league debut the previous day, Wang threw a sinker that clocked at 92 miles per hour (148 kilometers per hour).