Atlanta Braves history: Peter Moylan’s first pitching win

Since our favorite Atlanta Braves Aussie pitcher remembers that day fondly, it seemed like a good thing to review.

It’s another “this day in history” segment for the Atlanta Braves today, and this was indeed a milestone date for popular Peter Moylan.  This surprise is that it came 13 years ago today:  April 24, 2007.

Moylan was a late-bloomer, but not so much because of his own talents.  In his case, it simply took a while for him to be discovered since Australia hadn’t exactly been a hotbed of baseball prowess.

That said, he did get a long look from the Minnesota Twins in 1996-97 as a pitcher for their Gulf Coast League squad, throwing just over a 4 ERA over almost 69 innings.

At that point, he was a newbie international signee at 17 and 18 years old and the Twins didn’t see enough in those years to continue, so they released him the next Spring.

Moylan didn’t give up.  He kept after it and kept improving.  His breakout moment came as a pitcher for his country during the 2006 World Baseball Classic.  A 96 mph heater with swing-and-miss stuff will get anybody’s attention, and the Atlanta Braves gave him his shot that year – immediately putting him at Triple-A Richmond.

He didn’t stay there long:  by April 11 Moylan was suddenly in the majors.  He got his debut appearance the next day before getting sent back to Richmond, but by 2007 he had worked his way into the bullpen to start for a while.

That brings us to this anniversary date.

Peter Moylan, Cleanup Artist

This game was ugly early in Miami, with both teams getting six runs on the board before the end of third inning.  Starters Mark Redman (Braves) and Rick van den Hurk (Marlins) had nothing to offer on the night.

Moylan was called upon to not only provide some relief, but provide innings as well.  He entered to begin the 4th and continued for 44 pitches of baffling movement over 3 strong innings.

In those frames, he gave up a lone hit – thanks to a ricochet shot off his own foot – and a walk while striking out 3 Marlins.

He did get that inaugural major league AB as well … striking out on 5 pitches.

But in the top of the 6th, the Atlanta Braves rewarded their down-under stopper for his effort.  Kelly Johnson lead off with a walk and advanced on a single by SS Edgar Renteria.  Chipper whiffed, but Andruw Jones walked to load the bases.

Brian McCann then lined a ball to left, but that was enough to get Johnson home from third.  The go-ahead run had scored, and Moylan became the ‘pitcher of record.’

But the contest stayed close.  3 more Braves relievers had to hold the Marlins at bay to protect that 1-run lead.  Or better said, they had to hang on until Atlanta put the game out of reach in the 9th.

With 2 outs and nobody on base, six straight Braves reached base via 5 singles and a walk – and most of the hits were of the ‘seeing eye/bleeder’ variety.  Still, 4 runs scored in the process.

Bob Wickman then just had to tie a bow around the affair in the last of the 9th in a non-save situation and that gave Moylan the “W” – his first in the majors.

Over his career, Pee-tuh recorded a 24-10 record with a dandy 3.10 ERA over 499 games.

Not half bad for somebody who didn’t crack the majors until roughly age 27½.  Good on ya, mate!