Colorado Play of the Week: Striking out Cancer

Some would argue that not all games in the 182-game regular season schedule matter in Baseball. Well, in the case of August 14th, 2017, everybody knew how important this late August game was.

Chad Bettis, a Rockies veteran who has been on the team since 2013, made his season debut Monday evening after winning his battle with testicular cancer that had sidelined him since last November.

Bettis led Colorado in wins and innings pitched last season and picked up right up where he left off Monday evening, throwing seven scoreless innings with no walks, six hits, and two strikeouts. When asked about his nerves after what might have been the biggest game of his life, Bettis was noticeably emotional.

“You try to get your mind clear because of the task at hand, and then to be hit with that emotion, it was unbelievable,” Bettis said. “Walking in, it was deep breaths.”

Although Bettis did not pick up the win according to the box score in Colorado’s 3-0 victory, striking out cancer was an even bigger victory.