Braves fall, but A.J. Minter shined. And his training buddy Patrick Mahomes noticed.
The Atlanta Braves couldn’t close out the National League Championship Series on Friday night. But don’t blame “opener” A.J. Minter.
The East Texas native and former Texas A&M pitcher made his first career start as the Braves’ “opener” with expectations to go one inning. Maybe two innings, if his first frame was clean enough.
Well, Minter ended up going a career-long three innings with a career-high seven strikeouts, including striking out the final five batters he faced. Minter made baseball playoff history for most strikeouts in an appearance of three innings or less — as a starter or reliever — and tied an NLCS record for consecutive strikeouts.
“I did surprise myself a little bit,” said Minter, who last pitched three innings in his last start at Texas A&M in 2015. “I wanted to set the tone, attack one hitter at a time.”
Unfortunately for Minter and the Braves, the Dodgers rallied back and won Game 5 at Globe Life Field, 7-3, Friday night. Game 6 is Saturday afternoon. But Minter’s performance on baseball’s biggest stage pleased those who know him well.
Bobby Stroupe, who owns and operates elite-level training facilities APEC in Fort Worth and Tyler, couldn’t have been happier for Minter. Minter, who grew up in the Tyler area, has been working out with Stroupe since middle school.
Yes, the same Bobby Stroupe who has been training Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes for years. Mahomes and Minter are friends through the Stroupe connection, and Mahomes showed Minter some social media love by sharing an Atlanta Braves tweet praising Minter during Game 5.
“They know each other real well. They’re buddies,” said Stroupe, who has trained Minter since 2007. “I’m happy for A.J. I think he’s showing that he’s a professional. Last year didn’t go his way, but he hit the reset button this offseason. I’m just really happy for him. He’s a great pitcher who had an outstanding season. Now to see him do this in the postseason is special.”
Minter made baseball history before recording his first out by simply starting the game. He was the first pitcher to make his first career start in a postseason game.
Minter then dazzled with his best stuff, shutting down the Dodgers’ high-powered offense for three innings. Minter had not pitched two full innings in 144 career appearances going into the game.
The seven strikeouts in three innings or fewer was a postseason record, and the five consecutive strikeouts matched the NLCS record set by Curt Schilling with the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the 1993 NLCS.
Minter threw 42 pitches, 37 for strikes, on the night.
Minter worked around a two-out double by Justin Turner in the first inning, ending the threat by striking out Max Muncy.
Then Minter needed just 10 pitches to get through a scoreless second inning with a groundout followed by two strikeouts. Minter closed by striking out the side — all looking — in the third inning. He battled back from a 3-0 count to strike out the second batter of that inning, Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor.
“A.J. has done a great job of keeping up with his body and always being prepared,” Stroupe said. “I know he told the Braves that he’d be ready mentally and physically if they wanted to go to the new ‘opener’ format. He was a starter in high school, of course, and part of his college career. He did really well tonight.”
As far as the rest of the series, it’s unlikely Minter will be an option for Game 6 on Saturday. But Minter fully expected to be ready to go for a potential Game 7 on Sunday.
“I’m a competitor,” he said.
This story was originally published October 16, 2020 at 10:19 PM.
