ATLANTA -- Baseball fans in Toronto learned a little bit more about Dallas on Thursday.
No, not Dallas, Texas. Dallas from Texas.
Specifically, 25-year-old right-handed pitcher Chad Dallas.
Dallas, an Orange, Texas, native who was drafted by the Blue Jays in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, made his big league debut in Thursday’s series finale against the Braves, and he made a good first impression.
Dallas was selected to Toronto's roster on Thursday afternoon and was on the mound by the second inning Thursday evening. Dallas allowed one run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays downed the Braves, 7-2, to avoid a sweep and a fifth loss in a row.
Manager John Schneider indicated ahead of the contest that Dallas would make his debut. Perhaps Schneider did not envision Dallas debuting with a runner on third and one out after opener Mason Fluharty departed after 1 1/3 innings.
Dallas answered the call as he induced an Austin Riley flyout, walked Mike Yastrzemski and earned his first MLB strikeout when he fanned Sandy León to end Atlanta’s scoring threat.
Matt Olson produced a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, Atlanta's lone run against Dallas.
Dallas even got some run support as the Blue Jays put together a three-run third inning against 2024 National League Cy Young Award and pitching Triple Crown winner Chris Sale.
Charles McAdoo got the Blue Jays on the board with an RBI single, and Myles Straw added to the lead with a two-run single. Nathan Lukes, Straw and Tyler Heineman added some insurance in the top of the ninth. Lukes and Straw tallied RBI singles, while Heineman’s two-run double helped Toronto to a four spot in the frame.