SEATTLE — Drew Thorpe started Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez out with a 92.5 mph fastball for a called strike in the first inning Tuesday at T-Mobile Park.
The Chicago Whie Sox starter threw another fastball, clocked again at 92.5 mph according to MLB Statcast, which was fouled off.
With the All-Star in an 0-2 hole, Thorpe went to his top pitch — a changeup. Rodríguez swung and missed the 84.5 mph pitch for the first strikeout of Thorpe’s major-league career.
“I threw a good one and he swung over it,” Thorpe said. “It was pretty surreal. Grew up watching him over the last couple of years and a really good player. Super cool.”
Thorpe had a splendid big-league debut, allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings. But the White Sox once again couldn’t hold on to a late lead, falling 4-3 in front of 20,005.
Cal Raleigh, who hit a walk-off grand slam in Monday’s series opener, came up with another big hit for the Mariners. This time he drove in two with a two-out double against reliever John Brebbia in the seventh to give Seattle the lead.
While the Sox continued to struggle finishing out games, there were plenty of reasons to be excited about what they saw from Thorpe.
“This is a tough team to pitch against because they don’t chase much and they did a good job controlling the strike zone and he did a good job pounding the strike zone,” manager Pedro Grifol said.
“He looked under control out there. He looked like he had done it before.”
The right-hander, a key part of the March trade that sent Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres, allowed three hits, struck out four and walked two in the 98-pitch outing.
“I can’t really put it into words,” Thorpe said of the day. “Working for this my whole life and dream come true. Good to get the first one out of the way and hopefully build on that and get better for the next one.”
Thorpe also impressed his teammates.
Catcher Martín Maldonado said Thorpe’s “ability to throw his secondary pitches for strikes,” stood out.
Shortstop Paul DeJong saw someone who was a “cool, calm and collected type guy.”
Thorpe, the No. 3 rated prospect in the organization according to MLB.com, joined the team from Double-A Birmingham. He found out Sunday morning.
“It was super exciting,” he said. “It was a long game day on Sunday, for sure.”
The 23-year-old was brilliant with the Barons, going 7-1 with a 1.35 ERA in 11 starts. And he began his major-league career with a 1-2-3 inning, finishing it by striking out Rodríguez.
He received early run support on an RBI single by Maldonado in the second. The hit snapped an 0-for-35 streak for the catcher.
Thorpe got the first two batters out in the second inning before surrendering back-to-back doubles to the Mariners’ Luke Raley and Mitch Garver. Raley scored on Garver’s hit. Thorpe walked Dominic Canzone, but limited the damage by striking out Ryan Bliss.
Back-to-back homers by Andrew Vaughn and DeJong gave the Sox a 3-1 lead in the third.
An error hurt the Sox in the bottom of the inning, as Nicky Lopez couldn’t cleanly field Josh Rojas’ grounder to second. Lopez immediately got another opportunity when Rodríguez bounced one his way. The Sox got the force at second, but couldn’t complete the double play.
With two outs, Rodríguez stole second and scored on a double by Raleigh, cutting the Sox lead to 3-2.
Thorpe had an important shutdown inning in the fourth, striking out two in the scoreless frame.
“Your team scores runs for you, your job is to go put a zero on the board,” Thorpe said. “That’s all I was trying to do.”
Thorpe fielded his position well in the fifth, hopping off the mound to get to a ball hit by Raleigh and making the throw to first for the final out of the inning — and his outing.
The Sox stumbled late, but got a positive look at the future with Thorpe.
After the game, he soaked in the experience with family members who made the trip.
“Pretty close to home so it was an easy flight for them, which is nice,” said Thorpe, who was born in Utah. “They’ve been there for me my whole life. Being able to have them here supporting me, unbelievable.”
