Dámaso Marté
Encyclopedia
Dámaso Marté Sabinon is a Dominican
Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who is currently a free agent
. He previously played for the Seattle Mariners
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, and Chicago White Sox
(–).
by the Seattle Mariners in . He made his major league debut on June 30, 1999, against the Oakland Athletics
.
. In his Pirates debut, he hurled 3 innings of one-hit
ball. He went on to throw 14 innings in which he only allowed 1 run
and struck out
a career-high 5 batters against the Cincinnati Reds
.
. In , he enjoyed his most successful big league season, where he went 4–2 with a 1.58 ERA
in 79.7 innings pitched where he struck out a career high 87 batters. He continued his success in when he held opposing batters to a .217 batting average
and left-handed batters to an average of .143. He also matched his career high for strikeouts in a game with 5 against the Florida Marlins
.
A notable achievement for him was being the winning pitcher in the longest game in World Series
history, Game 3 of the 2005 World Series
. In that game, he tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out three batters in the 14 inning win over the Houston Astros
.
. Dámaso made 3 relief appearances in the World Baseball Classic
for the Dominican Republic
in 2006. Come the regular season, he went on to struggle a bit in where he lost 7 straight games as a reliever but still averaged 9.7 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. In , he enjoyed some success where he held left-handed batters to a .094 batting average. He also did not allow a hit in 32 consecutive at-bats against left-handers which happened to be the longest streak of consecutive hitless at-bats by a left-handed batter against any pitcher in the MLB. For a stint, after an injury to Matt Capps
, Marté was the Pirates closing pitcher, and was fairly successful. During his stint as closer, he was traded to the New York Yankees.
were traded to the Yankees for 4 minor leaguers Jose Tabata
, Ross Ohlendorf
, Jeff Karstens, and Dan McCutchen. In his Yankees debut, he relieved Jose Veras
(for only one batter), and faced David Ortiz
, who struck out swinging.
Following the 2008 season, the Yankees declined Marté's option. However, the Yankees then re-signed him to a new three-year deal with an option for a fourth.
Following a disappointing regular season in which Marté posted an ERA of 9.45, he delivered an extraordinary performance for the Yankees in the playoffs. After a shaky first outing in Game 2 of the 2009 American League Division Series
, in which he surrendered two consecutive singles to the Minnesota Twins
before being relieved, Marté retired all twelve of the remaining batters he faced during the postseason. During Game 6 of the 2009 World Series
, Marté faced Philadelphia Phillies
stars Chase Utley
and Ryan Howard
, striking out both of them on the minimum 6 pitches. Marté and the Yankees went on to win Game 6, clinching the Series for the team's 27th championship.
Marté missed much of the 2010 season with injury. He underwent shoulder surgery late in the 2010 season and missed the entire 2011 season. In late June, Marté started to play catch in his journey to recovery. He will become a free agent at the end of the 2011 season after the Yankees declined his 2012 option and pay him a $250,000 buyout.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He previously played for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(–).
Seattle Mariners
Marté was signed as an amateur free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Seattle Mariners in . He made his major league debut on June 30, 1999, against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On November 16, , Marté signed with the New York Yankees, but was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 13, 2001, for Enrique WilsonEnrique Wilson
Enrique Wilson Marte is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He batted switch and threw right-handed....
. In his Pirates debut, he hurled 3 innings of one-hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
ball. He went on to throw 14 innings in which he only allowed 1 run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
a career-high 5 batters against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Chicago White Sox
On March 27, 2002, Marté along with Edwin Yan were traded to the Chicago White Sox for Matt GuerrierMatt Guerrier
Matthew Olson Guerrier is an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He attended college at Kent State University, and made his major league debut on June 17, .-Chicago White Sox:...
. In , he enjoyed his most successful big league season, where he went 4–2 with a 1.58 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 79.7 innings pitched where he struck out a career high 87 batters. He continued his success in when he held opposing batters to a .217 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and left-handed batters to an average of .143. He also matched his career high for strikeouts in a game with 5 against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
A notable achievement for him was being the winning pitcher in the longest game in World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
history, Game 3 of the 2005 World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
. In that game, he tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out three batters in the 14 inning win over the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Second stint with Pirates
On December 13, 2005, the White Sox traded Marté back to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Rob MackowiakRob Mackowiak
Robert William Mackowiak is an American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He bats left-handed, throws right-handed, and is a utility player. During his Major League Baseball career, he has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and...
. Dámaso made 3 relief appearances in the World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
for the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
in 2006. Come the regular season, he went on to struggle a bit in where he lost 7 straight games as a reliever but still averaged 9.7 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. In , he enjoyed some success where he held left-handed batters to a .094 batting average. He also did not allow a hit in 32 consecutive at-bats against left-handers which happened to be the longest streak of consecutive hitless at-bats by a left-handed batter against any pitcher in the MLB. For a stint, after an injury to Matt Capps
Matt Capps
Matthew Dicus Capps , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He is a 2002 graduate of Alexander High School in Douglasville, where he lettered in football, basketball, cross-country and baseball before receiving a scholarship at LSU...
, Marté was the Pirates closing pitcher, and was fairly successful. During his stint as closer, he was traded to the New York Yankees.
New York Yankees
On July 26, 2008, Marté and Xavier NadyXavier Nady
Xavier Clifford Nady VI is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is a free agent.-Amateur career:The St. Louis Cardinals originally drafted Nady in the 4th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft after he was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior...
were traded to the Yankees for 4 minor leaguers Jose Tabata
Jose Tabata
José Nicolas Tábata is a professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an international signee of the New York Yankees and, by 2008, became the Yankees' No. 2 prospect...
, Ross Ohlendorf
Ross Ohlendorf
Curtis Ross Ohlendorf is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is known for his hard-biting sinker. He can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball, and he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball.-High School and College...
, Jeff Karstens, and Dan McCutchen. In his Yankees debut, he relieved Jose Veras
Jose Veras
José Enger Veras Romero is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Playing career:Veras was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in . He rose through the Tampa Bay minor league system, mostly as a starter. Veras struggled when he reached AAA,...
(for only one batter), and faced David Ortiz
David Ortiz
David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
, who struck out swinging.
Following the 2008 season, the Yankees declined Marté's option. However, the Yankees then re-signed him to a new three-year deal with an option for a fourth.
Following a disappointing regular season in which Marté posted an ERA of 9.45, he delivered an extraordinary performance for the Yankees in the playoffs. After a shaky first outing in Game 2 of the 2009 American League Division Series
2009 American League Division Series
The American League Division Series consisted of two concurrent best-of-five game series that determined the participating teams in the 2009 American League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a "wild card" team played in the two series. The ALDS began on Wednesday, October 7 and...
, in which he surrendered two consecutive singles to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
before being relieved, Marté retired all twelve of the remaining batters he faced during the postseason. During Game 6 of the 2009 World Series
2009 World Series
The 2009 World Series was the 105th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League and defending World Series champions, and the New York Yankees, champions of the American League...
, Marté faced Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
stars Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
and Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
, striking out both of them on the minimum 6 pitches. Marté and the Yankees went on to win Game 6, clinching the Series for the team's 27th championship.
Marté missed much of the 2010 season with injury. He underwent shoulder surgery late in the 2010 season and missed the entire 2011 season. In late June, Marté started to play catch in his journey to recovery. He will become a free agent at the end of the 2011 season after the Yankees declined his 2012 option and pay him a $250,000 buyout.