SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Rodón’s brilliant season reached new heights Sunday afternoon, eclipsing 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career and recording his ninth game with double-digit punchouts over six shutout innings.
Rodón walked off the mound to a standing ovation and his warm-up tune, Alice In Chains’ “Rooster,” blaring over the Oracle Park loudspeakers after his 106th and final pitch sailed past the bat of Bryson Stott to escape the most volatile of high-wire acts. With runners at first and third and no outs, he fired 98 mph at the letters past Bryce Harper for No. 199; after loading the bases, he coaxed Jean Segura to swing through a low slider for No. 200.
A congratulatory message flashed across the center field scoreboard, prompting the first of the 41,189 on hand to rise to their feet. In a scene that could have been plucked out of any World Series run or 107-win season, they all remained standing for Rodón’s bases-loaded showdown with Bryson Stott, and Rodón struck him out, too.
