Sergio Escalona
Encyclopedia
Sergio Luis Escalona is a relief pitcher
for the Houston Astros
of Major League Baseball
. He is listed as standing 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) and weighing 170 lbs. He bats and throws left-handed.
Phillies, where he compiled a 4–5 record between 2005 and 2006. He pitched 107 innings and struck out 105 batters over the two seasons. Escalona was promoted in 2007, playing for the Williamsport Crosscutters
, the Lakewood BlueClaws
, and the Clearwater Threshers
. At Williamsport, he started seven games, posting a 2–2 record and a 7.57 earned run average
(ERA). A 1–4 record and 4.15 ERA in Lakewood was not enough to stop him from being promoted again. In Clearwater, he pitched one game, where he allowed one run on eight hits in his only start.
The Phillies sent Escalona back to Lakewood for the 2008 season. He earned a 5–1 record in 28 appearances as a relief pitcher
during his first professional season in the bullpen. He notched two saves and compiled a 3.43 ERA. These statistics prompted the Phillies to promote him to the Reading Phillies
, where he made 15 appearances. He lost one game there, but had a 2.22 ERA in 15 appearances with 29 strikeouts (90 total between both levels in 2008). Escalona participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League
as a member of the Mesa Solar Sox
. Escalona made 14 appearances for Reading in 2009, posting 10 saves in 13 games finished. He struck out 16 batters in 17⅓ innings with a 2.12 ERA. Due to a need for an additional pitcher in the bullpen, the Phillies purchased Escalona's contract from Reading and promoted him to the Major League club on May 16, 2009.
. The Phillies went on to win the game, 8–6; Escalona was the pitcher of record in the game, earning his first Major League victory in his debut. This was the second consecutive victory by a rookie in a Phillies uniform, as Andrew Carpenter
had earned his first victory the night before; the last time that had happened was 2007, when Cole Hamels
and Kyle Kendrick
won back-to-back games for the Phillies.
for minor-league second baseman Albert Cartwright after being designated for assignment a few days before. On May 10, Escalona was called up to replace Nelson Figueroa
, who was designated for assignment.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He is listed as standing 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) and weighing 170 lbs. He bats and throws left-handed.
Minor leagues
Escalona was signed as a free agent by the Phillies in 2004. He spent two years playing for the Venezuelan Summer LeagueVenezuelan Summer League
The Venezuelan Summer League is a minor league baseball rookie league which operates in Carabobo and Aragua states, Venezuela.The VSL was created in 1997, after several operational years of the Major League Baseball's academies in the country...
Phillies, where he compiled a 4–5 record between 2005 and 2006. He pitched 107 innings and struck out 105 batters over the two seasons. Escalona was promoted in 2007, playing for the Williamsport Crosscutters
Williamsport Crosscutters
The Williamsport Crosscutters are a Short-Season A classification minor league baseball team based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, the Lakewood BlueClaws
Lakewood BlueClaws
The Lakewood BlueClaws are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the South Atlantic League, a Class Single-A baseball league. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Park located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey...
, and the Clearwater Threshers
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
. At Williamsport, he started seven games, posting a 2–2 record and a 7.57 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA). A 1–4 record and 4.15 ERA in Lakewood was not enough to stop him from being promoted again. In Clearwater, he pitched one game, where he allowed one run on eight hits in his only start.
The Phillies sent Escalona back to Lakewood for the 2008 season. He earned a 5–1 record in 28 appearances as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
during his first professional season in the bullpen. He notched two saves and compiled a 3.43 ERA. These statistics prompted the Phillies to promote him to the Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
, where he made 15 appearances. He lost one game there, but had a 2.22 ERA in 15 appearances with 29 strikeouts (90 total between both levels in 2008). Escalona participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
as a member of the Mesa Solar Sox
Mesa Solar Sox
The Mesa Solar Sox are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Mesa, Arizona at HoHoKam Stadium, which is also the spring training facility of the Chicago Cubs....
. Escalona made 14 appearances for Reading in 2009, posting 10 saves in 13 games finished. He struck out 16 batters in 17⅓ innings with a 2.12 ERA. Due to a need for an additional pitcher in the bullpen, the Phillies purchased Escalona's contract from Reading and promoted him to the Major League club on May 16, 2009.
Philadelphia Phillies
Escalona made his major league debut on May 17, pitching a scoreless inning and striking out one batter against the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. The Phillies went on to win the game, 8–6; Escalona was the pitcher of record in the game, earning his first Major League victory in his debut. This was the second consecutive victory by a rookie in a Phillies uniform, as Andrew Carpenter
Andrew Carpenter (baseball)
Andrew "Drew" Carpenter is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. A graduate of Long Beach State University, Carpenter was called up to the majors for the first time from AA Reading on August 27, .-Minor leagues:After posting a 7–4 record and...
had earned his first victory the night before; the last time that had happened was 2007, when Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels
Colbert Michael "Cole" Hamels is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels throws a four-seam fastball, a circle changeup, a curveball, and a cut fastball, which he added in 2010...
and Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Rodney Kendrick is a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
won back-to-back games for the Phillies.
Houston Astros
On January 10, 2011, Escalona was acquired by the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
for minor-league second baseman Albert Cartwright after being designated for assignment a few days before. On May 10, Escalona was called up to replace Nelson Figueroa
Nelson Figueroa
Nelson Walter Figueroa, Jr. is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts where he pitched for three years and earned a bachelors degree in American Studies...
, who was designated for assignment.