Sánchez makes bold declaration after close ABS miss

PHILADELPHIA -- Cristopher Sánchez pitched so well on Opening Day that the Rangers called him a “bonafide superstar.”

But even superstars aren’t perfect every day. Sánchez didn’t have his best stuff in Wednesday afternoon’s 6-5 comeback win in 10 innings over the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, grinding through 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, one run and four walks while striking out seven.

Sánchez’s four walks were his most in a game since June 3 last season in Toronto.

He had walked a combined three hitters in 45 2/3 innings in his last seven regular-season starts, dating to Aug. 30 against Atlanta.

Sánchez threw 65 pitches in his first three innings. He might have been frustrated in the second inning. Following a 10-pitch walk to Jacob Young with one out to load the bases, Sánchez threw an 0-1 changeup to Drew Millas for a ball.

It was close.

Sánchez immediately challenged it. He lost. It was a ball by 0.4 inches.

“I did it because I really thought that was a strike,” Sanchez said via team interpreter Diego D'Aniello. “But as soon as I came back in the clubhouse, I told the guys -- the starting pitchers -- that is the last time I’m challenging a pitch.”

Teams typically don’t want their pitchers using the ABS Challenge System because their delivery doesn’t give them a perfect view of home plate -- at least compared to catchers -- and they can get emotional on the mound.

It might explain why pitchers have won only three of eight challenges (37.5%) in the Majors this season, compared to batters (49%) and catchers (59%), as of Wednesday afternoon.

Sánchez will make his next start on Tuesday against the Giants in San Francisco.