Box ScoreCINCINNATI, Ohio – Former Cal State Fullerton outfielder and closer Michael Lorenzen made his Major League Baseball debut for the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday afternoon Great American Ballpark.
Lorenzen became the 57th former Titan and 27th former Titans All-American to play in MLB and got the start on the mound for the Reds on Wednesday. He went five innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out five and left the game trailing 3-2. The Brewers would tack on five more runs to get the 8-3 win and peg Lorenzen with the loss.
In the second inning, Lorenzen faced off against another former Titan as Brewers' outfielder Khris Davis (2007-09) won the battle of the former Titans with a home run to center field off Lorenzen.
Lorenzen, who batted .322 in his three years at Cal State Fullerton, showcased that hitting ability as he collected a single to right field in his first at bat in the bottom of the second inning. He became the first Reds pitcher to get a hit in his first career at-bat since Mike Leake in 2010.
In his three seasons with the Titans, Lorenzen played in 167 games, making 158 starts. He batted .322 (195-for-605) and had 11 home runs with 128 RBIs. On the mound, Lorenzen served as the team's closer in 2012 and 2013. In 42 career appearances, Lorenzen posted a 5-0 record with a 1.61 ERA and recorded 35 career saves, the most in Titans history.
Lorenzen tallied 19 saves in 2013, which is the second most in a single season; three shy of Scott Wright's single-season record of 22 saves in 1984.
The Titans have now had two former players make their MLB debut in 2015. Danny Dorn made his debut on April 22 for the Arizona Diamondbacks, entering the game as a pinch-hitter and drawing a walk.
