Mather unexpectedly returns to mound

19 April 2010 No Comments Jayson Peters

Joe Mather was one of the better power hitters in the East Valley earlier this decade at Mountain Pointe. He was an All-State outfielder/infielder who set school records in hits, home runs and RBI (his career RBI and hits records and single-season home run marks still stands but Kevin Cron broke the career home run record last week).

By the time he reached Class AA in the minor leagues, he was known as “Joey Bombs.”

Mather kept hitting his way through the St. Louis Cardinals organization and reached the major leagues in 2008.

Last Saturday night, however, he unwittingly showed more of his versatility.

The 20-inning epic between St. Louis and the New York Mets reached the 19th when the Cardinals declared themselves officially out of options.

So after former Diamondbacks infielder Felipe Lopez lobbed a scoreless 18th, the 6-foot-4 Mather toed the rubber in the 19th.

It didn’t go quite as well.

Mather issued a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt and then (wisely) intentionally walked David Wright.

He hit Jason Bay with a pitch, and Jeff Francoeur gave the Mets the lead with a sacrifice fly.

That lead was wiped out after Yadier Molina tied it in the Cards’ half of the 19th with an RBI single, but Mather took the loss in the 20th on an eventual game-winning sacrifice fly by Jose Reyes.

Mather became the first Cardinals position player to record a decision since Jose Oquendo in 1988, when he pitched four innings in a 7-5 loss to Atlanta.

“Sophomore year of high school,” Mather told MLB.com when asked the last time he pitched. “That’s quite a few years ago. Unfortunately being a little wild was the problem then. So I think I honestly did a little better (Saturday) .”

The local roots still run through Ahwatukee. Mather’s father, Paul, is the freshman coach at the school, while Mountain Pointe principal Bruce Kipper used to be Mather’s freshman baseball coach.

Mather is also seen around town working with Mountain Pointe kids during the fall and spring.

A contingent of Pride staff will be at Chase Field this week to watch Mather face the Diamondbacks.