The Toledo Blade Online
The Toledo Blade OnlineThe Toledo Blade Green Edition
Click here to subscribe or renew!
Temp: 34°
Humidity: 96%
Saturday, 11/21/09
Home »   Sports »   Mud Hens » 

Click to Receive RSS Feeds!EmailPrint IndexHelp FacebookMySpaceDiggDel.icio.usFark

Article published August 29, 2008
Garcia pitches well for Mud Hens in win
Hessman hits 2-out, 3-run homer in eighth to beat Columbus
Freddy Garcia, auditioning for the Tigers' rotation, gave up no runs on two hits in three innings last night for the Mud Hens.
( THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH )

After Freddy Garcia's outing at Fifth Third Field last night, he said he feels he's ready to pitch in the major leagues again.

Garcia, a right-hander with nine years of major league experience, pitched well for the Mud Hens in his second game since coming back from shoulder surgery he had in 2007.

In the Hens' 4-3 win over Columbus, Garcia pitched three innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out four. He threw 32 pitches, 25 for strikes. Garcia was on a workload limit of either three
innings or 50 pitches, whatever came first.

"I pitched in Lakeland, and they wanted me to come here to face more experience," Garcia said. "I proved to them I can pitch right now."



The Tigers signed Garcia earlier this month to see if he could possibly pitch for them in September, with an eye on putting together their 2009 starting rotation.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland, hitting coach Lloyd McClendon, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and third-base coach Gene Lamont watched Garcia from the Hens' press box.

Garcia's fastball topped out at 88 mph. He threw mostly breaking pitches and changeups to the Clippers and had success fooling them.

"If I get hit, I get hit. But I know I'm throwing it right there [in the strike zone]," Garcia said. "If you throw right there then anything can happen. I know I'm not young anymore, I can't throw by anybody. I can throw the ball and make something happen."

Hens manager Larry Parrish said he was "very satisfied" with Garcia's outing.

"To me, you look at not so much the success, as the swings against him," Parrish said. "There weren't many good swings tonight against him.

Columbus second baseman Ray Olmedo chases after the throw as the Hens’ Clete Thomas steals a base in the second inning.
( THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH )

"He had good angle to his breaking ball, he was changing planes. I think he's still got a lot of confidence in himself."

Garcia won't pitch for the Hens again because they only have four games left this season and his schedule calls for an outing every five days.

He could be called up to Detroit when rosters expand Monday, go to instructional league in Lakeland, Fla., or ask for his release.

To earn the win, the Hens went ahead in the eighth inning on a two-out, three-run home run from Mike Hessman, his 34th of the year.

Toledo had managed just four hits before the eighth and trailed 3-1 heading into the inning. Hessman has homered in two straight games.

"He knocked the stuff out of that one," Parrish said. "We've been missing that over the last month."

The Hens' other Olympian besides Hessman, Blaine Neal, closed the game to earn his 26th save. Francis Beltran earned the victory in one inning of relief.

The Clippers took the lead in the fourth inning on back-to-back home runs by Alberto Gonzalez and Leonard Davis off Matt Rusch, who relieved Garcia.

Columbus added a run in the fifth on Gonzalez's RBI single.

NOTES: Parrish said pitcher Dontrelle Willis will not make his scheduled start tomorrow for the Hens. The left-hander left his start on Monday after one inning with forearm tightness. He threw a bullpen session yesterday and Parrish said he was feeling better, but won't pitch for the Hens again before their season ends Monday. ... Before the game right-hander Beltran was outrighted to Toledo and right-hander Casey Fien was assigned to Double-A Erie.

- Maureen Fulton


Permanent Link
Click to order!

 RECENT RELATED ARTICLES

Tigers name former infielder Tom Brookens as coach | 11/09/2009
Tigers honor Tigers’ Porcello | 11/06/2009
Back on top: Yankees beat Phillies for 27th title | 11/05/2009
Utley, Lee help Phils stave off Series elimination | 11/03/2009
Yankees close in on 27th title | 11/02/2009
Reversed HR call helps A-Rod, Yankees beat Phils | 11/01/2009
Player found success in coaching | 11/01/2009
Burnett, Texeira, Matsui help Yankees tie Series | 10/30/2009
Phillies ace Lee dominates Yanks in Series opener | 10/29/2009
Howard, A-Rod headline Series | 10/28/2009
Cleveland hopes Acta will be big shot for Tribe | 10/28/2009
Yankees beat Angels 5-2, advance to World Series | 10/26/2009
Indians hire Manny Acta as manager | 10/25/2009
Angels rally past Yankees | 10/23/2009
A-Rod, CC put Yankees on brink of World Series | 10/21/2009

More related articles »


Michigan Athletics
Updated: 6:55 am
Michigan tries to salvage season >>
UT Athletics
Updated: 11:53 am
Rockets run all over EMU
PHOTO GALLERY >>
BGSU Athletics
Updated: 10:05 am
BG wins 3rd in row
PHOTO GALLERY >>
High School Sports
Updated: 8:59 am
Knights out; Mustangs' rally before half decisive
BCSN VIDEO/PHOTO GALLERY >>
Walleye
Updated: 7:05 am
Walleye’s comeback falls short >>
BGSU Athletics
Updated: 10:05 am
Sheehan breaks another record
PHOTO GALLERY >>
More news stories



click here!
Click here to view our special section.

ADVERTISING SECTIONS
Click to visit us!
Steve Pollick
Updated: 7:17 am
Ohio kids head afield for youth deer-gun season >>

Dave Hackenberg
Updated: 7:07 am
Stronger OSU teams have lost at Ann Arbor >>

More columnist stories

Golf Guide

Search by course:

MOST READ STORIES
MOST E-MAILED STORIES
1.  Owens failed to address shortcomings in nursing
2.  BGSU plans for 2 new dormitories
3.  Buckeyes sport retro look of 1954
4.  Owens students get apology for lost accreditation
5.  Toledo fares poorly in survey
6.  Skeldon says he will step down Dec. 31, but Konop wants him dismissed immediately
7.  Ex-OSU coach Bruce instills passion for rivalry
8.  Company outlines $37.5M port plan
9.  Chrysler boosts Dundee plant; engine line to gain jobs, add output
10.  Owens faculty vote no confidence in provost


AP  News Headlines



AP  Business Headlines



AP  Sports Headlines


AP  Features Headlines
Copyright 2009 The Blade. By using this service, you accept the terms of our privacy statement and our visitor agreement. Please read them.
The Toledo Blade Company, 541 N. Superior St., Toledo, OH 43660, (419) 724-6000
To contact a specific
department or an individual person, click here.
The Toledo Times ®