Phillies reliever arrives in fourth inning, records first career save

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Ricardo Pinto. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Phillies reliever endures brutal traffic, earns first career save years between MLB appearances

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/3/24

Philadelphia Phillies reliever Ricardo Pinto certainly earned his first career save on Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

Ricardo Pinto, who has not pitched in the majors for five years, is warming up. Spencer Turnbull has about 80 pitches tonight and he's at 70.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 2, 2024

Ricardo Pinto went 6 years, 194 days, between appearances with the Phillies.

It's the longest gap by a Phillies player since Marlon Byrd (8 years, 322 days) from 2005-14. Longest gap by a Phillies pitcher since Nelson Figueroa (8 years, 187 days) from 2001-10. @EliasSports
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) April 3, 2024

Pinto debuted with 25 games out of the Phillies bullpen in 2017 and made two relief appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019.

His effort on Tuesday was overshadowed by first baseman Bryce Harper's slump-busting three home run performance, but Pinto's story shouldn't be lost on fans in Philadelphia.

Not only did the 30-year-old have to wait over half a decade to get his call back to the majors, but when he finally got promoted again, he had to deal with brutal traffic just to make it to Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies sent a car at noon for Ricardo Pinto, who was in Rochester, N.Y. with the IronPigs. He got stuck in traffic and did not arrive until the fourth inning. He said hello to Rob Thomson, then went to the bullpen. He pitched four innings for the save.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 3, 2024

Pinto allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks in the 9-4 victory. Pinto threw 46 of his 73 pitches for strikes and recorded seven swings and misses.

The right-hander spent 2023 pitching with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos and the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican League before going to his native Venezuela for winter ball action.

Pinto signed a minor league contract with the Phillies in February. He allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings pitched covering four outings in spring training.

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