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Mario Melvin Soto (born July 12, 1956 in Baní, Dominican Republic), is a former Major League pitcher, mostly as a starter, for the Cincinnati Reds from through . He currently works in the Reds' front office. ==Major league career== For most of his career, the Dominican right-hander was essentially a two-pitch pitcher. He possessed a hard fastball (clocked in the low-to-mid 90s) and complemented it with a baffling circle changeup, both thrown from the three-quarters position. Soto's changeup was particularly effective against left-handed hitters. On occasion, Soto would also throw a slider, which he turned to more in the latter stage of his career. He less frequently threw a curveball. From to , Soto struck out 1,063 batters. On May 12, , Mario Soto came very close to throwing a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. However, with two out in the top of the ninth inning and the Reds up 1–0, outfielder George Hendrick spoiled the no-hitter with a game-tying solo home run. The Reds won the game for Soto in the bottom of the ninth, 2–1. In , Soto finished second in voting for the National League's Cy Young Award. Philadelphia's John Denny was the winner. Statistically, 1983 and 1984 were Soto's best seasons. He compiled a 35–20 record with a 2.92 earned run average and he established himself as the ace of the Cincinnati Reds' rotation. However, the Reds were mediocre, finishing with losing records in both seasons. In a twelve-season career, all for Cincinnati, he was 100–92 with a 3.47 ERA in 297 games, 224 of them starts. He had 72 career complete games and 13 shutouts. He allowed 667 earned runs and struck out 1,449 batters in 1,730 and 1/3 innings pitched. He also earned four saves (all during the 1980 season). For all his pitching skills, Soto was known to give up quite a few home runs. On April 29, 1986 against the Montreal Expos, Soto became the 11th pitcher in major league history to surrender four home runs in an inning. The homers were hit by Andre Dawson, Hubie Brooks, Tim Wallach, and Mike Fitzgerald. (This has since been accomplished by 13 more major league pitchers, Catfish Hunter and John Smoltz being among them.) 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mario Soto (baseball)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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