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Chen feels Jose’s presence during final start
- Updated: October 2, 2016
WASHINGTON — Marlins left-hander Wei-Yin Chen made his 22nd and final start of the 2016 season on Saturday, but when he stepped on the mound, Chen felt like he wasn’t alone.
Before throwing his first pitch, Chen touched the No. 16 sketched on the back of the mound as a tribute to Jose Fernandez, who was killed last Sunday in a boating accident. Chen had a solid performance, giving up two runs in five innings in the Marlins’ 2-1 loss at Nationals Park.
“It’s a complicated feeling out there,” Chen said through his interpreter. “This is my last start of the year, and when I stepped out on the mound, seeing the No. 16 on it, and when I touched it, I felt like Jose was right next to me, helping me pitch in this game. I feel like I’m still playing with him.”
In their lone season together, Chen and Fernandez developed a close friendship.
Chen wanted to use one of Fernandez’s bats in the hope that it would bring him luck at the plate. Chen entered the game hitless in 48 MLB at-bats, including 42 this year.
Fernandez took great pride in …
