Luke Farrell Pitched A Scoreless Inning Against His Dad's Team, Like A Real Ingrate

Last night, John Farrell’s playoff-bound Boston Red Sox used a strong outing from Eduardo Rodriguez and some timely hitting to take a 5-0 lead into the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds, who are playing out the string on a lost season. Almost nothing was at stake in this game, but it still found it’s way into the history books when Luke Farrell, John’s 26-year-old son, took the mound for the Reds to start the ninth inning.

Luke Farrell is a reliever in the Reds organization, and last night was just his seventh major league appearance, and his sixth as a member of the Reds, after being drafted by Kansas City in 2013, making his way to the Dodgers organization, and finally being waived by the Dodgers in August. His appearance last night represented a first in Major League history, according to ESPN:

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time a pitcher had faced a team managed by his father in a major league game. It was the first time any player had faced his father’s team since Moises Alou with the Chicago Cubs against Felipe Alou’s San Francisco Giants in 2004.

Luke talked after the game—he pitched a scoreless ninth inning with a pair of walks—about the added pressure of facing his dad’s team:

Also a strange, surreal moment for dad:

“Somewhat surreal. Very proud,” John Farrell said. “You’re standing there, looking through a netting in the dugout, and you’re thinking you’re maybe watching him in Little League or high school or so many of the different stages. To see it happen on a major league mound, a special day, a special inning.”

[...]

“There’s a major conflict that’s going on inside. You’re always rooting for your own guys, but that’s a unique arrangement right there. Hopefully there’s some balls that were squared up to some players on our side to record some outs. Like I said, there’s a lot of conflict internally right there.”

You figure John will have some extra work around the house next time Luke comes by for a visit. Strike out my guys, will you?