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As he peered through the raindrops and prepared to deliver the first pitch of his major-league career, Max Kranick wasnât thinking about becoming the answer to a trivia question: the first starter since 1893 to pitch a perfect debut of at least five innings. Kranick was focused on the 60 feet, 6 inches in front of him at Busch Stadium. The 23-year-old right-hander hoped his nerves would dissipate once he threw a strike. Catcher Jacob Stallings signaled for a fastball. Kranick pumped a 94 mph four-seamer over the heart of the plate. Strike one.
Kranick exhaled, and Stallings rolled the baseball to the dugout â the first of several souvenirs Kranick will hold on to from his debut.
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