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Having spent most of the season in Single-A, Nathan Bannister has a ways to go before reaching the big leagues.
But Monday, the former Arizona Wildcat went toe-to-toe with one of the game’s best pitchers — and got the win.
The right-hander tossed six innings of one-run ball as the Modesto Nuts took down four-time MLB All-Star Madison Bumgarner and the San Jose Giants, 4-2.
Bumgarner, recovering from a shoulder injury, was making a rehab start. The left-hander allowed one run (unearned) in six innings in a no-decision, but it wasn’t enough to outduel Bannister, who has been on a roll lately.
The ex-Wildcat has allowed just four earned runs in his last 34 innings.
Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 28th round in 2016, Bannister has a 4.64 ERA in Single-A Modesto this season, striking out 70 batters in 85.1 innings.
He was briefly called up to Triple-A Tacoma, but compiled a 6.32 ERA in 15.2 innings before being sent back to Modesto.
The 23-year-old has a long road ahead of him to reach the MLB, but can still say he picked up a win against a World Series MVP.
That’s pretty sweet.
Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire