NEW YORK (AP) — Jerar Encarnación was called up to the major leagues, and Miami Marlins teammate Sandy Alcantara made a promise to the 24-year-old.
“I told him if you get a hit or a homer, I'm going to buy something,” the pitcher recalled saying on the way back to the team hotel Friday night.
Inserted into the depleted Marlins' starting lineup, Encarnación made a spectacular major league debut with a go-ahead, seventh-inning grand slam for his first hit. He also threw out a runner at third base from right field and stole a base, lifting Alcantara and Miami over the New York Mets 6-2 Sunday.