Minnesota Twins: Bartolo Colon defeats every major league franchise with win over Diamondbacks
By Keaton Moore
With the Minnesota Twins’ 12-run victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bartolo Colon became the 18th player in history with a victory against all 30 major league franchises.
Starting with his first career win against the Boston Red Sox in 1997, Bartolo Colon gradually pitched his way to victories against all but one major league franchise–the Arizona Diamondbacks. Before Sunday, Colon had started four games against the Diamondbacks, in which had gone 0-2 with a 3.63 ERA.
Although the Diamondbacks gave him similar trouble as they had in the past, the Minnesota Twins supported Colon with a nine-run first inning. In the end, Colon pitched six innings, in which he allowed seven hits and four runs, to join an exclusive company of now 18 pitchers with victories against every major league franchise.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Fifteen year ago, Al Leiter took the mound in the exact same spot as Colon. In 2002, Leiter also beat the Diamondbacks to become the first pitcher to beat every major league team.
Since then, others – such as John Lackey, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling – have followed in Leiter’s footsteps. Colon is the first pitcher to achieve this rare feat since Max Scherzer checked his former team, the Detroit Tigers, off his list of defeated teams last May.
“It means a lot to me for my career,” Colon said (per mlb.com). “I haven’t won in two stadiums, so that’s my next goal.”
Next: Jake Arrieta is dominating his way to free agency
To achieve his “next goal”, Colon needs another victory against the Diamondbacks at their home ballpark, Chase Field. Then, all that stands in his way is a victory at Wrigley Field. However, with the Twins schedule, neither are possible this season barring a World Series matchup.