Goforth gets pickoff in Major League debut

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers reliever David Goforth knew this time was coming. He admitted that the thought of running out of a Major League bullpen for the first time had raced through his mind many times before.

That opportunity came Tuesday in Milwaukee's 6-3 loss to the Giants when Brewers manager Craig Counsell called him in to pitch in the ninth inning. The message: Go right after 'em.

The rookie right-hander, ranked by MLB.com as the Brewers' No. 20 prospect, did exactly that. After being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs the day before, Goforth executed an inside pickoff move called by catcher Martin Maldonado to nab Nori Aoki attempting to steal third and then retired Hunter Pence one pitch later on a deep flyout to left field.

However, the Mississippi native, whose father, stepmother and high school friend were in the stands after making the overnight trip to Milwaukee, didn't realize the inning was over.

"I think I forgot how many outs there were at the end," Goforth said afterward. "I wanted to stay out there and get another out."

The pickoff move had been in the works as Goforth and Maldonado went over the sign in a bullpen session earlier Tuesday. In fact, Goforth believes his first Major League out came via something he's never done before.

"I believe that's the first time I've ever had that work on a pickoff move to second," Goforth said. "Luckily we had gone over it in the bullpen, so I had an idea of what that sign was."

Pence's out provided a bit more heart-pounding emotion for Goforth. Nevertheless, Brewers left fielder Khris Davis was able to secure the long out near the left-field wall.

"It looked like he got it off the end [of the bat] a little bit. It did go a little further than I originally thought," Goforth said.

Goforth isn't sure of the role he'll play in the now nine-man Brewers bullpen moving forward. He just knows he'll be ready to go whenever his number is called, especially now that he's experienced the adrenaline that comes along with a Major League debut.

"It was exciting; I feel like I did a pretty good job of holding those emotions in," Goforth said. "Whenever they call down, I'll get going and pitch."