2007
Bacsik did not make the major league team when the Nationals broke camp, and started with the Columbus Clippers, the Nationals Triple-A team. After the Nationals found themselves with four of their five starting pitchers on the disabled list, Bacsik and other pitchers were brought up from their farm system. Despite a record of 1-3 and a 4.00 ERA with Columbus (and an ERA of 5.26 as a starter), Bacsik made his debut with the Nationals on May 19, throwing six shutout innings in a game the Nats eventually lost. In his following start, he pitched 7-2/3 innings, his longest outing of the year including the minors, allowing three runs, and earning his first win in the majors since August 4, 2004.
On August 7, 2007, Bacsik sealed his name to baseball history as he gave up career home run number 756 to Barry Bonds, who broke a 33-year-old record previously held by Hank Aaron. During the post-home run celebration, Bacsik tipped his cap to Bonds in a gesture of respect. Bacsik visited the Giants clubhouse to personally congratulate Bonds on his achievement and Bonds gave Bacsik an autographed bat that read: "To Mike, God Bless. Barry Bonds."
Coincidentally, Bacsik's father had faced Aaron (as a pitcher for the Texas Rangers) after Aaron had hit his 755th home run. On August 23, 1976, Michael James Bacsik held Aaron to a single and a fly out to right field. The younger Bacsik commented later, "If my dad had been gracious enough to let Hank Aaron hit a home run, we both would have given up 756."
In 2007, he did not miss a start in the rotation after his last callup until he was sent to the bullpen, and went 5-8 with a 5.11 ERA in 20 starts and 9 relief appearances.
During the 2007 postseason, Bacsik worked as an analyst for ESPN.
Read more about this topic: Mike Bacsik (left-handed Pitcher)