Getting Back on the Mound (Part 2)

By Paul Semendinger

June 15, 2026

***

Click here for Part One of this story.

Well, I'll start with the good news... I was able to get out there and pitch.

And I threw strikes. Lots of strikes.

We lost, but I battled, and for the first time throwing in about a month, and for the first time pitching in two months, and with a back that still isn't 100%, while I am disappointed that I lost, I am pleased that I was able to battle.

A line from the movie Rocky Balboa went through my head as I prepared for the game and as I was pitching. It's a mostly forgotten line, said by (little) Marie in the doorway of a hotel room before Rocky's final fight. She states, "You're going to prove that the last thing to age on someone is their heart."

In spite of the loss, I tried to demonstrate that on the mound yesterday. I gave it everything I had.

Here's a quick rundown of the game:

First Inning:

• My first pitch of the game was hit to left field. I thought it was a catchable fly, but our left fielder took a step in and the ball sailed over his head for a double. (As a pitcher, I'd call this an E-7, but it was scored a double.)

  
  

• The second batter, on an 0-1 pitch bunted (He bunted on the third pitch of the game in a 35+ baseball league?!). It was a great bunt. It deadened right on the edge of the infield grass. I am not 100% physically. I was not spry nor quick enough to get the ball on this day. Neither was my catcher. It was a single. There were runners on first and third and no outs.

• On an 0-1 pitch, the next batted singled home a run. (This wasn't a great beginning. We were down 1-0.)

  
  

• I threw six pitched to the next batter: ball, strike, foul, foul, Strike Three. One out.

• On an 0-1 count, the next batter hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

• The final batter, on a 3-2 pitch, lined out to third.

As I stated, I was throwing strikes, if nothing else. Had the fly been caught, I would have escaped with no real damage. It wasn't caught. I figured I gave up no earned runs, but because it was a double, and not an E-7, or an out, both runs were earned.

Second Inning:

• On a 2-2 pitch, the lead-off guy singled.

• Next, a first pitch single to left.  It was a ground ball through the infield. Frustrating.

• On an 0-2 pitch, I gave up a run scoring single. We had scored three runs in our half of the first inning. This tied up the game. I had that batter and I gave him too good of a pitch to hit, especially on 0-2. More frustrating.

• On an 0-2 pitch, the batter grounded out 6-5, with the force at third.

• On my first pitch, another fielder's choice, 6-4. Two outs, runners on the corners.

• On an 0-1 pitch (I was throwing strikes!), another 6-4 force to end the inning.

Third Inning:

• Three pitch strikeout. This was the guy who bunted for a hit in the first inning. I responded by putting him in the book.

• First pitch fly out to center.

• A 1-0 pitch was hit for a single.

• A 1-1 pitch was a dribbled up the first base line. I ran over and grabbed it before it could roll foul and tagged out the runner on his way up the line.

I should have quit while I was ahead... (Well, the game was still tied, but you get the point.)

Fourth Inning:

• A 1-1 pitch was a rocket double to left field.

• A 2-1 pitch bounced through the infield to put us behind 4-3.

• Strike One, Strike Two, Strike Three (looking) - Sit Down. One out.

• Again on a 2-1 count - another grounder through the lift side, for another run. Uggg.

• First pitch grounder to, nope, a high bounce, OVER short. Single

• The pitch I most regret: a 3-1 fastball in the middle of the plate becomes a high fly to left. I figured it was the second out. It wasn't. It kept going. And going. And going.

  A three-run homer.

• A first pitch fly out to left.

• A 2-2 pop out to first.

And that ended my day. 4 innings, three strikeouts, no walks, seven runs.

***

As I look back, it's apparent I was done in the fourth inning. I didn't have the same command. I was throwing more balls and fewer strikes.

As far as the homer I allowed... I have allowed my share of home runs. I have allowed blasts that are still zooming as satellites around Earth. (Some might be satelittes of other planets.) The one I allowed today was just a fly ball. I am so surprised it kept going. I figured it was an out, not out of the ballpark.

***

We never recovered from the hole I put us in, but, in the bottom of the 9th, we had our best hitter (a lefty) up with the bases loaded and the winning run on first. It was 9-7. He hit a rocket to deep right.

It was caught.

We lost.

I get the L. I deserved it.

***

It wasn't a great start. But, bad back and all, I battled.

The players on the other team at one point asked how old I was. "I'm 57... I'll be 58 next month," I said. They seemed impressed that an old guy could still get outs. Just on this day, I didn't get enough of them.

I'll be pitching out of the bullpen next week and should get my next start, hopefully, on June 28.

***

In his return to the rotation in 1978, Catfish Hunter went 4.1 innings. He gave up three runs on five hits. He also allowed a homer. The Yankees lost that game in 11 innings. Ol' Catfish didn't get a decision.