Padres’ Mason Miller plays ‘The Reaper,’ tramples Red Sox to keep scoreless streak alive originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The first two batters San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller faced Saturday struck out swinging in nearly identical three-pitch scenarios.
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Strike looking … foul ball … strike swinging.
Boston Red Sox teammates Wilyer Abreu, who led off the bottom of the ninth inning at Fenway Park, and pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida joined a growing MLB fraternity: batters overmatched by Miller.
The Red Sox’s final hope, Marcelo Mayer, had a different path to striking out to end the game. He also struck out swinging, but at least he worked the count to 2-0 before succumbing to three straight strikes.
Protecting a 3-2 advantage, Mason earned his third save of the season, generating four whiffs on 11 pitches.
Saturday’s outing continued a dominating trend for Miller.
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Padres closer Mason Miller rolls on
Over his past 23 appearances, dating back to Aug. 8, Miller registered a 0.00 earned-run average, surrendering five hits in 24.2 innings and striking out 50.
Able hit 104 mph on the radar gun and counter the power with a 96.1 mph change-up with 20 inches of run, like he did to conquer Yoshida Saturday, Miller continues to look like he’ll develop into a generational talent. In four MLB seasons, he struck out 262 of the initial 643 batters he faced.
Miller’s dominance is beginning to attract attention from mainstream entertainers.
Miller debuted his new entrance song, Korn’s “Blind,” before earning his first save March 28. The nu-metal act paid homage to the reliever’s nickname by responding to the post, “The Reaper,” emphasized by a few emojis.