Tonight at 8:05 p.m. ET the Seattle Mariners (6-5) and Texas Rangers (6-6) will lock horns in an early American League West clash that could give Seattle some confidence as the season pushes forward. Live stream the game by clicking this link; Mariners fans can tune in to the radio broadcast on 710 ESPN, while Rangers fans can do likewise on 103.3 ESPN. The Rangers will send Colby Lewis (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound for the first time this season, while the M's will counter with Roenis Elias (0-1, 2.70 ERA).
Lewis' journey back to the rubber has been a remarkable one-he's missed 21 months and undergone two surgeries, one of which has never been performed on an MLB pitcher before.
"I'm excited to get back, I'm excited for the opportunity to play this game, the opportunity for the Rangers to give me that chance to go out and play, and ultimately continue my career a little bit longer," Lewis said Sunday. "Like my wife said, she wasn't ready for me to be done. So it was extra motivation to get back out there."
Lewis had "hip resurfacing" surgery, which is an operation to remove bone spurs that doesn't involve a total replacement.
"I kind of feel like anybody, this is all we ever know is playing sports," Lewis said. "There would be a multiple number of guys in (the clubhouse) that if they had the same hip surgery, they'd want to try to be able to make a comeback. So I just happen to be the first guy. So I just want to go out there, perform and put my team in a spot to win, and have a good time doing it."
Lewis is going up against a promising young Cuban import, who has pitched twice already and gone five innings both times. "I've got to keep pitches down in the major leagues," Elias said through an interpreter. "If you don't they are not forgiving."
The exciting Mariner pitcher will be fun to watch, but the story is Lewis. According to Texas manager Ron Washington, he means a great deal to the team aside from his sturdy output.
"I don't mean this in a mean way, but he's the grandfather of our pitching staff. He's the leader," Washington said. "We were looking for issues in spring training, never happened. Looking for issues in rehab. Never happened. So he feels good about it."
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