Remembering the Big Sexy Game

Pitching with the Atlanta Braves to start the 2017 season, Bartolo Colon found himself on a team going nowhere the rest of the way. 15 games out of the division, Colon had a bloated 8.14 ERA and was released on DFA’d on June 29. His FIP at 5.09 was enticing enough for a contending Twins team to take a flier, and they signed him as a free agent on July 7.

Colon made his debut 11 days later, throwing against the New York Yankees in his first Twins start. He turned in three outings that month for Minnesota putting up a 5.87 ERA, and then it happened.

On August 4, 2017, Minnesota welcomed the Texas Rangers to Target Field. Minnesota had stumbled, coming in at 51-55 with losses starting to mount. Then it happened. The man known as “Big Sexy” took the mound and pitched a game that rallied a clubhouse.

It was a Friday night and the Rangers sent future Twins starter Martin Perez to the mound. Texas was under .500 as well, and some fun names were in that lineup. Future Hall of Famer, Adrian Beltre, batted cleanup. Joey Gallo was the left fielder, and former Twins fan favorite Carlos Gomez was in center.

Things started off less than ideal for Minnesota as Colon gave up a single to Beltre in the first inning that scored Shin-Soo Choo and Elvis Andrus. Minnesota responded with a four spot in their half of the inning. Brian Dozier hit a solo shot to lead off for the Twins, one of his 34 that year. Robbie Grossman also went yard, and his three-run shot plated Miguel Sano and Joe Mauer.

Colon then cruised through the second inning, and Dozier homered for the second straight at bat. Minnesota had a commanding 5-2 lead, and they had given “Big Sexy” some breathing room to work with. Nomar Mazara did beat him for a single in the third inning, scoring Brett Nicholas, but a 5-3 lead was still intact.

As he had done most of his career, Colon worked through traffic on the bases. He gave up some contact during the fourth and fifth innings, but nothing came across. Again in their half of the fifth, Minnesota added. Eddie Rosario singled home Mauer and Grossman for some insurance and the Twins lead grew to 7-3. At that point, Colon had to be feeling great with a blanket the size of a grand slam.

Getting the Rangers side in order during the sixth inning, he punctuated the up-down with a strikeout of Gallo. Future Hall of Famer, Mauer, punched a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Dozier in the sixth inning. 

Colon faced the minimum during the seventh inning, starting with Gomez looking at strike three. He then faced only four in the eighth inning, and toying with 100 pitches, Paul Molitor allowed him a shot at the complete game.

Getting two quick outs, Mike Napoli and Gallo, Colon was just the 27th out away from his first complete game since 2015. Finishing with 38 complete games in his career, and a league leading nine during 2003, this wasn’t uncharted territory for the longtime veteran. At 44 years old though, this was a testament to a Big Sexy amount of energy. Gomez, he of the game 163 theatrics, homered, but Nicholas ended it during the next at bat.

Colon had done it, he had thrown nine innings on just 106 pitches. Scattering nine hits allowed him to keep the damage at four runs. He walked only one, and struck out five. At 44, he was the older player in franchise history to throw a complete game. A team needing a turnaround had just been given the emotional lift they could use the rest of the way.

Facing Cole Hamels the next game made it an understandable loss, but Minnesota then ripped off six straight, and won seven of eight. Getting to 70-63 by the end of the month, they wound up at 85-77 to finish second in the AL Central. Unfortunately the season didn’t end with a ring, but Colon had brought a whole new energy to Target Field.

Still now you can find the random Colon shirt or jersey walking around Target Field. The Twins did their Big Sexy shirt give away, and he was embraced as the cult hero he always has been. He’ll now enter into retirement with a different cap, but Minnesota will always have those four Big Sexy months in 2017.