Daniel Poncedeleon. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Sports are special. They're unpredictable.
Fourteen months ago--May 9, 2017--Cardinals prospect Daniel Poncedeleon took a line drive to his right temple in a Triple-A game, and required brain surgery.
Last night, the righty made his Major League debut and threw seven no-hit innings on the way to a 2-1 loss to the Reds. Poncedeleon walked three and struck out three, but had no problem being removed after throwing 116 pitches.
"First of all, I'm a liability at the plate," Poncedeleon said. "It's a one-run game ... I 100 percent understand, plus I was a hundred-something pitches in."
Poncedeleon is the fifth pitcher since 1961 to carry a no-hit bid through seven frames of a debut. Billy Rohr had the longest effort for the Red Sox with eight-and-two-thirds innings in New York in 1967.
Cards interim manager Mike Shildt said the rookie had an incredible night.
"I don't know if words can describe that," Shildt said. "I mean, talk about magical--what he dealt with, what he's come back from, making his major-league debut, throwing seven innings without giving up a hit, that's what's magical about this game and special about this game, and one of the reasons we love this game--to see stories like that."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports