[antidan444]

August 30, 2013 (Corpus Christi at Frisco)

With the season ending in four more days, I knew coming into today that this would probably be my last appearance of the year. Coming off a very encouraging start five days ago, I wanted to do more of the same: Be aggressive, throw strikes and let the defense play.

Frisco's lineup is loaded. Their worst hitter is at .265 and four guys are over .300.

First inning: I gave up a leadoff single, but he was caught stealing and I retired the next three straight, needing just eight pitches to get out of the frame.

Second: We took a 1-0 lead in the top half. I gave up two one-out singles, one a blooper, but got a groundout and our catcher threw out another runner trying to steal second to end the inning. (11 pitches/19 total)

Third: Aside from another bloop hit, another one-out single, I got through the inning with little trouble on 16 pitches (35 total).

Fourth: Another bloop single by the leadoff guy made me shake my head, but he, too, was caught stealing! Our catcher has a cannon, which is nice. The next three guys went in order, and I needed just nine pitches in the inning (44 total).

Fifth: My confidence was growing and I was going right at their hitters. I needed just five pitches to get through this inning 1-2-3, and had only 49 pitches total. I started (prematurely) thinking about a complete game, maybe even a shutout.

Sixth: I gave up a leadoff homer on a changeup I left up in the zone, tying the game at 1. So much for the shutout. Other than an error by our third baseman, I had no other issues, getting out of the inning on 13 pitches (62 total).

Seventh: A leadoff double to the left corner was followed by a two-run homer on the next pitch, and suddenly I was trailing 3-1. The rest of the inning was uneventful, although I hit a batter, which irritated me. I needed 17 pitches (79 total).

Eighth: If it wasn't clear that they were starting to figure my stuff out, and that I was going to throw strikes and they should swing early and often, then this inning proved it: Homer, homer, then three singles (the last driving in a run) before I was pulled with two outs.

Still, I stayed true to what I wanted out of myself. I was aggressive, I avoided walks and I made them earn it. They did earn it, but that's OK. I know Double-A is a little too advanced for me at the moment (I was the only teenager in the game, and the next-youngest teammate is 22). At least I closed the season with some encouraging signs (No walks over 14 1/3 innings in final two starts).

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Game stats: 7 2/3 innings, 13 hits, 6 earned runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts.

FINAL 2013 STATS (Assuming no September callup to Houston, which would be LOL):

HIGH SCHOOL (North Hagerstown): 7-2, 2.95 ERA, 88 1/3 innings, 83 hits, 32 walks, 76 Ks
* Drafted by Houston Astros 1st overall (LOL given those HS stats)
ROOKIE BALL (Greeneville): 0-0, 3.97 ERA, 11 1/3 innings, 15 hits, 3 walks, 7 Ks
CLASS A (Lancaster): 2-1, 6.62 ERA, 17.2 innings, 26 hits, 4 walks, 10 Ks
DOUBLE A (Corpus Christi): 1-3, 8 saves, 5.72 ERA, 28 1/3 innings, 35 hits, 12 walks, 7 Ks.