Houston: Age is only a number and Bartolo Colon is evidence of that.
The 44-year-old pitcher carried a perfect game into the eighth and Robinson Chirinos drove in all three runs for the Texas Rangers during their 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in 10 innings on Sunday night.
“I don’t ever think about what age I am or who is facing me,” Colon said. “I always try to do my job and I always feel happy doing my job and that’s what I think about.”
Colon dominated the defending World Series champions for seven innings, retiring his first 21 batters in an entertaining duel with Astros ace Justin Verlander.
Of the first 17 batters Colon faced, he went to an 0-2 count on 10 and struck out six in that span.
“He was doing everything he wanted to with that baseball,” Chirinos said. “So it was fun to be behind the plate and receive those pitches.”
Colon walked Carlos Correa on a 3-1 pitch to start the eighth before Josh Reddick lined an 0-2 delivery down the right-field line for a double that put runners at second and third, spoiling the no-hit bid.
