In The Pros: Washburn Starts Tonight Vs. Texas Rangers
Posted: May 13, 2009
*Former Sheboygan A’s pitcher, Jarrod Washburn gets the start tonight versus the Texas Rangers
ARLINGTON — While several of his teammates spent their off-day on Monday playing golf, Mariners left-hander Jarrod Washburn went bass fishing with rotation colleague Erik Bedard, Don Wakamatsu and two of the manager’s kids.
“I made him cast right-handed,” Wakamatsu quipped on Tuesday.
Washburn caught his share of bass and hooked a six-foot alligator, which was cut loose well before reaching the boat.
It was good practice, perhaps, for what Washburn will encounter on Wednesday night, when he makes his seventh start of the season and first against Texas. The Rangers have one of the premier offenses in the American League, ranking first in home runs and third in batting average and hits.
But Washburn is off to one of the best starts of his career. Five of his six outings have been quality starts, and his 2.68 ERA ranks seventh in the AL.
Washburn’s 3-2 record could be much better than it is. A little run support would sure come in handy.
The Mariners have scored two or fewer runs in four of Washburn’s starts, and he has surrendered two or fewer runs five times.
Washburn is 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA in his past three starts after winning his first three outings of the season. He is 1-2 with a 3.10 ERA in three starts on the road and is holding left-handed hitters to a .146 average, while right-handers are hitting .248 against him.
Against the Rangers, Washburn has a career record of 8-8 with a 4.29 ERA in 29 games, including 26 starts. His 5.91 ERA at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is his second highest in an AL park. It’s also the fourth highest among any active opponent with at least 10 starts here.
“The managers I have been with in this ballpark prefer to throw lefties here because of the way the ball carries to right field,” said Wakamatsu, who started lefty Jason Vargas in Tuesday night’s series opener. “If Wash can command the baseball the way he has been and keeps his pitch count down, I think he’ll be fine.”
Pitching matchup
SEA: LHP Jarrod Washburn (3-2, 2.68 ERA) Washburn has been solid all season long, and he put up another great outing against the Royals in his last start Thursday. Unfortunately for Washburn, he took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in seven innings with five strikeouts. Washburn said his sinker was the key to his performance against Kansas City. He threw it to lefties and righties, and it kept hitters off balance all night. The 34-year-old left-hander has really surged this season, and he’s one of the big reasons the Mariners are floating around the .500 mark.
TEX: RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-1, 6.10 ERA)
McCarthy had his shortest outing of the season on Thursday against the Athletics. He lasted just four innings and allowed seven runs in a 9-4 loss. McCarthy is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in his past three starts with opponents hitting .339 off him. McCarthy has made 19 starts in his career at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and is 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA.
*note – The above article is from the Seattle Mariners website. To read the entire article, Click Here.
The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
