Bettis goes seven scoreless in ‘emotional’ return to Rockies

Through surgery, months of treatment, and climbing back to the Major Leagues after conquering testicular cancer, Chad Bettis managed to keep at bay his emotions about returning to pitch for the Colorado Rockies.

Until Monday morning.

“It crept in this morning when I woke up. Just think about everything that had happened, everything that my family and I had been through. I was holding back tears until the start,” Bettis said.

Nearly nine months since his initial diagnosis — on his wife, Kristina, and his first wedding anniversary no less — almost five since a setback in mid-March, Bettis took the bump at Coors Field for his 2017 debut.

“Just thinking about how my family was all there. And here today. Man, family is everything. Not only that, but my teammates fought for me and were there with me every step of the way,” Bettis said after the game. “So, that’s what crept in when I woke up.”

For Bettis, it was “deep breaths” and soaking it all in as the 33,641 in attendance rose as he walked from the bullpen to the dugout and then again as he charged out to the mound.

It was a façade he put up because of the “task you have at hand” — mowing down the Atlanta Braves — similar to the façade he had put on through battling cancer.

“She doesn’t know how big of a facade I was putting on because as strong as I was trying to be,” Bettis said of his wife. “I was leaning more on her and our families and teammates and everybody that was lending support, whether it be via social media or letter, prayers, everything.

“I’m at a loss for words.”

Remarkable courage, as the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders told “The Drive” on Monday, to stare down weeks of chemotherapy and a stint in the minor leagues to build up his arm strength, all with that recognizable smile.

“Chad Bettis could have done the ‘woe is me’ because he had every right in the world to do it, but not once as I talked to him and his wife, Kristina, for a long time did I ever get the sense that was there,” Saunders said.

“Their attitude just blew me away.”

In his return, Bettis blew away the Braves, going seven scoreless innings giving up just six hits and striking out two before being lifted for a pinch hitter.

After the game, manager Bud Black said the strong outing came to him as no surprise.

“From what everybody’s told me about this fella, seeing him do what he did tonight doesn’t surprise me. That was a great effort,” Black said. “Would you think he would come out and throw seven scoreless innings? I don’t know, but he did it. So, I say it all the time, that’s why we play, to find these things out.”

“You see this guy respond on a night that, I’m sure, was emotional for him, his family, the people who he’s close to, people with cancer presently who are following him, people who have followed his path, it’s great, great stuff.”

Scoreless after his departure, Bettis did not earn a decision. However, in the eighth frame, the Rockies put up three runs, and closer Greg Holland shut the door in the ninth for the save and win.

“We got the win. You know, I think that’s all that really matters at the end of the day,” Bettis said. “We’ve got to keep moving forward. We’re in a playoff push, so we keep going.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.