Today’s Dodger victory in Milwaukee gave us a glimpse into a unique situation. Ronald Belisario faced one batter, striking out Ryan Braun with the bases loaded, up 2-1 with one out in the fifth inning. Because Carlos Monasterios, the Dodger starter, didn’t complete five innings with a lead, the official scorer had discretion, per Rule 10.17©, to award the victory to the pitcher who was “most effective.”
↵Belisario became the eighth Los Angeles Dodger relief pitcher to be awarded a win without finishing the fifth inning or later:
↵Today: Belisario
May 26, 1993: Steve Wilson
Sept. 9, 1991: Kevin Gross
Sept. 30, 1988: Brian Holton
June 25, 1988: Brian Holton
Aug. 14, 1970: Fred Norman
Sept. 4, 1966: Ron Perranoski
Oct. 3, 1965: Bob Miller
My favorite of these outings was Holton, on June 25, 1988 against the Reds. Fernando Valenzuela was pulled after allowing four runs in the first inning. There were two outs and runners on first and third base for Holton, who threw one pitch, to retire the pitcher, Jose Rijo, to end the inning. The Dodgers proceeded to score five runs in the top of the second inning, giving Holton the lead. However, during the five-run rally, Holton was pinch hit for, so for his one-pitch effort, against a pitcher, in the first inning, Holton got the win.
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