Yordano Ventura trotted toward the mound with clipped strides, like a kid conserving energy for a junior high fitness test. Ventura has always trafficked in deception, with his slight frame obscuring the fire stored in his right arm and his stony expression concealing the pride bubbling beneath the surface. At times in 2015, team officials wondered if the only substance capable of extinguishing the former was the latter.
In the third inning of Wednesday’s 12-1 pummeling of Detroit, Ventura faced the sort of roadblock over which he stumbled so often earlier this season. Umpire Quinn Wolcott had just warned both benches after Ventura and Tigers starter Randy Wolf each hit batters.