Source: John Leyba / Getty
Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis made it through cancer, so pitching seven scoreless innings was a breeze for him.
Bettis made his return to the diamond Monday night (August 14) against the Atlanta Braves. He told MLB.com that he “felt like a kid the night before Christmas,” when he found out he would be playing. The crowd erupted as he emerged from the dugout to pitch.
It was his first start since being diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2016. After undergoing surgery to remove a testicle, he was expected to make a full recovery. But he revealed in March that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and he needed chemotherapy. After being sidelined through the beginning of the season, he returned to pitched seven scoreless innings and strike out two players. He held the Braves to no runs and the Rockies won, 3-0.
“You try to get your mind clear because of the task at hand, and then to be hit with that emotion, it was unbelievable,” he told press after the game. “Walking in it was deep breaths.”
The Rockies and Braves will face off again tonight.
