Former Vol Luke Hochevar Gets World Series Clinching Win
By Seth Norris
Former baseball Volunteer Luke Hochevar got his first career win of the postseason.
That first career victory just happened to be the game clinching win in a World Series.
The Kansas City Royals took down the New York Mets in five games in a best of seven series. The final score was 7-2.
The former All-American and number one pick from the University of Tennessee entered the game in relief in the bottom of the 10th inning. This was the second game in the series that needed extra innings to decide the fate, and the Royals took both of them.
The game continued on, and Hochevar pitched in the bottom of the 11th, and finished without allowing a single hit in two innings of work. The Royals went on to score five runs in the top of the 12th inning, and pitcher Wade Davis closed the game out in the bottom half to give Hochevar and the Royals a World Series win.
In case you forgot, this was Hochevar’s postseason and World Series debut. He spent last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and he was unable to contribute in the Royals’ World Series loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Luke Hochevar, coming off Tommy John surgery, began this season rehabbing in Omaha. He ended it as the winner in the clincher in New York.
— Tony Boone (@TonyGBoone) November 2, 2015
Hochevar has now pitched nearly 11 scoreless innings in the postseason, and has a ring to show for it.
Luke Hochevar now has 10 2/3 shutout innings for the #Royals in the postseason. How huge has that guy been?
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 2, 2015
Hochevar has undoubtedly had a disappointing career considering he was the top selected player in 2009. He has a career win loss record of 44-62, but with this performance it sounds like Royal fans are a forgiving bunch.
Luke Hochevar was like the game's worst starting pitcher for like half a decade. All is forgiven. All is forgotten.
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) November 2, 2015
And of course Luke Hochevar is the winning pitcher. Just like we drew it up in 2006 #Royals
— Brian (@huntington_bt) November 2, 2015
The former Vol has had an interesting route to get to this point, but being a World Series champion would certainly make all the doubt seem worth it.
Hochevar said after the game that manager Ned Yost “showed that one man’s belief is stronger than a million opinions.”
The former Vol ends the 2015 season with a strong quote and a strong performance.