In a way, Dodgers top right-handed pitching prospect Dennis Santana‘s MLB debut at Coors Field went exactly as you might expect from any MLB debut at Coors Field – lot’s of scoring, lot’s of extra base hits due to the enormously large outfield and, of course, Denver’s mile-high altitude.

But in another way, it was as unique as it could possibly be.

First and foremost is that starting pitcher Dennis Santana didn’t start. Instead, Dodgers left-handed reliever Scott Alexander officially became the 500th pitcher in franchise history (Brooklyn and Los Angeles) to start a game for the Dodgers.

Alexander went 1.1 innings, which even included an at-bat (he struck out), while allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, with one strikeout before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled him and brought in the 22-year-old San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic native for his major league debut.

Why have a reliever start a game in front of Santana in his major league debut, you ask? It was actually some pretty sound logic on Roberts’ part.

In addition to it being Coors Field where 7+ earned run averages are commonplace, Bud Black’s Colorado Rockies line-up is (was) quite left-handed heavy. And then, of course, there are the understandable (and expected) butterflies for the young Dodgers right-hander.

But there was another method to Roberts’ madness in having Santana follow Alexander instead of preceding him – it would allow Santana an opportunity to collect his first major league win in his major league debut without having to go the requisite five innings. In other words, it put Santana in a better position to succeed in his MLB debut rather than, at best, end up with a no-decision.

It worked.

Santana ended up going 3.2 innings, during which he allowed five runs (that Coors Field thing) on five hits, while striking out four and walking one in the eventual 11-8 Dodgers win.

Roberts’ decision to have Dennis Santana follow reliever Scott Alexander worked out well, as the 22-year-old rookie right-hander collected his first win in his MLB debut. (Photo courtesy of LA Dodgers)

But wait, there’s more!

In his first major league at-bat, Santana came within two feet of hitting a grand slam home run. No, really … he did!

Swinging at the very first pitch he saw off of Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson, Santana’s ball hit the top of the wall in left field for a two-run double which, at the time, tied the game 4-4 in the top half of the fourth inning. Santana’s double was followed by a sacrifice fly to right by Dodgers shortstop Chris Taylor to give the Dodgers a (then) 5-4 lead.

“The best thing about [Santana’s] debut was that double,” Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig kidded with SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo after the game. “We got him up there with bases loaded, his ability to be able to hit that double put the team ahead.

“As far as the pitching was concerned, he was able to pretty much execute all of his good pitches to a big league club as good as Colorado,” Puig added.

In addition to collecting his first MLB win on Friday, Santana also collected hit first MLB hit (a double) and his first two runs batted in. In fact, he came within two feet of hitting a grand slam in his first major league at-bat.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Speak of Yasiel Puig, all the ‘Wild Horse’ did was go 4-for-5 at the plate, with a huge three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to put the game out of reach (if there is such a thing at Coors Field) in the eventual 11-8 Dodgers win. In addition to his home run, the 27-year-old Cienfuegos, Cuba native also doubled and drove in two.

“I’ve been able to work really hard in the last couple weeks,” Puig told Rizzo. “Hopefully this is showing some of the results coming forward to be able to help this team win.”

With Friday’s win, the Dodgers are now 3.0 games behind the NL West division-leading Rockies.

Play Ball!