Colon sets sights on another mark

ARLINGTON, Texas — Bartolo Colon still has another lofty goal after becoming the winningest pitcher from Latin America on Tuesday.

“This year is almost getting close to the end, but one thing I will look for is Juan Marichal has (thrown) more innings than me,” Colon said through a translator. “For the Dominicans, I want to beat him also.”

But there likely won’t be enough time left in his 21st major-league season for the 45year-old Rangers right-hander to do that.

After needing six tries to get his 246th career victory and finally break a tie with Nicaragua’s Dennis Martinez for the most wins by a Latin American, Colon would have to throw 612⁄3 more innings to pass Hall of Famer and fellow countryman Marichal on another list.

The last-place Rangers have only 46 games left and Colon would probably have no more than nine starts remaining in a five-man rotation if he stayed on his turn. Plus the team is clearly focused on the future and likely will want to look at some younger pitchers, especially after rosters expand Sept. 1.

When asked Wednesday if Colon’s workload would be reduced down the stretch, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said: “We’re still in the same rotation as before.”

Marichal, who threw 244 complete games in his career, pitched 3,507 innings in 471 games over 16 years. Colon is at 3,445 2 ⁄ 3 innings, the most among active pitchers, as are his wins.

“If Bart got to 250 (wins), he could be the last to get to 250,” Banister said. “That would be the crazy thing about it.

“He loves the game. He loves to play, which is pretty refreshing, and we know it.”