No matter how it turned out, Sunday was destined to be an unforgettable day for Mick Abel. It wound up being historic. Abel struck out nine batters, tying Curt Simmons’ 78-year-old Phillies record for a pitcher in his major league debut,

Not only were Zebby Matthews, Mick Abel and Noah Cameron called up, finding varying degrees of success, but the Giants also announced that flamethrower Hayden Birdsong would be shifting from the bullpen to the starting rotation.