CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) - For the first time since the 2020 NLDS, Mike Clevinger took the mound in a major league game - and did so against his former team.
Clevinger started the Padres' 5-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday at Progressive Field, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out four and walking three. Ninety-five pitches were thrown by a Clevinger, who just twenty months prior, had undergone his second reconstructive elbow surgery.
"With what I've been through the past two years, this is just another day. Another day in the life," Clevinger stated after the game. "It's just accepting the challenge and trying to have fun with it. I had a lot of fun out there 'til the last inning."
A few questions later, the right-hander paused in the middle of an answer to collect himself: “Sorry,” said Clevinger. “I wasn’t sure I was going to pitch again. This is big.”
Clevinger, who went 42-22 with a 3.19 ERA in five seasons for Cleveland, was traded to San Diego during the abbreviated 2020 season and made five starts for the Padres (one during the National League Division Series) before needing Tommy John surgery.
"It just hasn't easy, but...[I'm] just happy to be back," Clevinger added at the end of his postgame press conference.