Colon intends to return in 2019

NEW YORK, Sept 27, (RTRS): The ageless Bartolo Colon isn’t content to call it a career after 21 seasons.

The 45-year-old Dominican righthander told reporters that he hopes to pitch in the major leagues in 2019, if given the chance.

Colon joined the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal last offseason and has spent the majority of the year with the club. He’s gone 7-12 with a 5.78 ERA in 28 games (24 starts), though most of the damage against him has come in the second half (8.85 ERA).

“My thought is to come back next season,” Colon said through an interpreter. “If it happens, if it helps me to pitch in winter ball and I am good, it

Colon

will help.”

Colon, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, will pitch for Aguilas in the Dominican League this winter, where his plan is to appear at every stadium in the league.

“I promised the people in the Dominican that I will pitch over there,” he said.

For his major league career, Colon is 247-188 with a 4.12 ERA in 565 games (552 starts). He’s a fourtime All-Star, most recently with the New York Mets in 2016, and won the American League Cy Young with the Los Angeles Angels in 2005.

Colon became MLB’s winningest pitcher from Latin America when he earned his 246th career victory to pass Nicaragua’s Dennis Martinez last month. Despite the accomplishment, the affable Colon still has his sights set on more.

“I’m not ready for,” he said. “I still think about next season. If a team gives me an opportunity, I’ll be back.” pinch-runner Adolis Garcia. Jose Martinez then hit a slow roller to third baseman Mike Moustakas, who threw wildly to first. Garcia was waved home but fell halfway to the plate, allowing second baseman Hernan Perez to easily throw him out to end the inning.

Chacin (15-8), who had lost his last three decisions, gave up one run on just one hit over five innings. Xavier Cedeno, Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress combined for four shutout innings as the Brewers held the Cardinals to a season-low two hits. Jeffress earned his 13th save in 18 chances. Chasen Shreve (3-4) took the loss.

Rockies 14, Phillies 0 In Denver, hard-throwing German Marquez started with eight straight strikeouts to match a modern-era big league record, and Colorado routed Philadelphia to take over the NL West lead.

David Dahl homered for the third straight game, and the Rockies went deep four times in all as they extending their winning streak to six.

Colorado moved a half-game ahead of Los Angeles for the division lead.

Marquez (14-10) allowed three hits in seven innings and struck out 11 to set a Rockies record with 221 for the season, seven more than Ubaldo Jimenez’s total in 2010. By striking out his first eight batters, he tied a post-1900 mark set by Houston’s Jim Deshaies in 1986, and equaled by the New York Mets’ Jacob deGrom in 2014. The overall record of nine was set by New York’s Mickey Welch in an NL game in 1884. Nick Pivetta (7-14) was the loser. Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 2 In Phoenix, A.J. Pollock hit a three-run homer and Arizona dropped Los Angeles to second place in the NL West.

The Dodgers’ second loss in a row put them a half-game behind Colorado.

Arizona chased Ross Stripling (8-6) with three runs in the second inning and Pollock hit his three-run homer in the fifth for a 6-2 lead.

Zack Greinke (15-11) overcame a shaky start to allow two runs and strike out six in six innings. Socrates Brito hit his first big league homer in two years and David Peralta hit his

Boston Red Sox’s Ian Kinsler beats the tag from Baltimore Orioles’ Austin Wynns (61) as he scores on a three-run double by Rafael Devers during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Boston on Sept 26. (AP)