Lane, 37, etches name in Padres history
Southpaw becomes oldest pitcher to make starting debut for club
ATLANTA -- When Padres pitcher Jason Lane got Jordan Schafer on a first-pitch lineout to right field in the first inning Monday, he officially became the oldest pitcher to make his debut start in franchise history.
Lane, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A El Paso to make a spot start for the injured Ian Kennedy, made his first big league start at 37 years and 219 days old.
That essentially obliterated the previous club mark of 32 years and 94 days set in 2009 by Walter Silva.
Lane, a converted big league outfielder, appeared in two games earlier this season for the Padres, but in relief. He had been starting for El Paso.
Lane became the oldest pitcher to start a game in the big leagues since Troy Percival (38 years, 52 days) did so for the Cardinals on Sept. 30, 2007.
Lane flew to Atlanta on Sunday after Kennedy was scratched after suffering mild oblique soreness.
Better still, Lane got a hit in his first at-bat, a bloop single into right field in the third inning. That was his first Major League hit since Sept. 11, 2007, when he was with the Astros.
Lane spent parts of six seasons with the Astros (2002-07) and Padres (2007) before making the move to pitching.