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Colon sharp in PawSox opener |
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Friday, 04 April 2008 |
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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET – Perhaps Bartolo Colon’s willingness to chat had to do with the sparkling outing he turned in Thursday night in Pawtucket’s season-opening 3-0 win over Indianapolis, witnessed before 10,681.
Addressing the media with assistance from PawSox general sales manager Cookie Rojas, Colon was encouraged the way the 74-pitch (45 for strikes) outing went. “He feels very good the way he pitched today. He felt he had control,” said Rojas, serving as Colon’s interpreter.
Though the pitch speed device located high above right field at McCoy Stadium has been known to be a tad off, a reading of 96-mph flashed up which Colon delivered to the Indians’ Raul Chavez in the third inning. That represented the highest reading on the night for Colon, whose fastball generally existed in the 92-95 mph range.
Colon never threw more than 17 pitches in a single frame, the high mark coming in the first inning. The game plan PawSox manager Ron Johnson laid out called for Colon to last five innings or 75 pitches, whichever criteria arose first.
Colon crossed paths with both targets at nearly the same point. His final pitch was a swing and a miss from Indianapolis third baseman Neil Walker, clocked at 95 mph.
Colon said there was no need to reach back for a little extra zip as closing time approached, which in itself could be viewed as encouraging news. “He felt he was consistent throughout the outing and didn’t need to rear back in order to throw harder,” said Rojas.
The 34-year-old Dominican Republic native was pleased the way his slider worked, which started to round back into its heyday form last weekend in Los Angeles. The game time temperature was announced at 49 degrees, but that didn’t detour Colon from pitching in short sleeves.
“[The slider] felt particularly well because it was cold, which allowed him to throw it effectively,” said Rojas as Colon kept on smiling. “[The weather] has never really affected him because he’s pitched in Cleveland where it’s cold.”
Asked if it’s easy to get loosened up on a cool night, Pawtucket pitching coach Rich Sauveur said “It’s very difficult. What Bartolo did was well-deserved.”
Signed to a minor-league deal on Feb. 25, Colon was brought aboard with the intent of being an insurance policy should trouble beset youngsters Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz. Judging by the sharpness he displayed, Fenway Park might not be too far in his future.
Colon did say he expects to pitch again in five days, though right now he’s uncertain what uniform that will take place in.
“Those aren’t his decisions, but whatever upper management wants him to do, he’ll be happy,” said Rojas. “Health-wise Bartolo’s arm feels good.”
Colon walked into the PawSox clubhouse at 4:45, his choice of attire jeans and a leather jacket. He poked his head in Johnson’s office and showed no trouble communicating in English, stating “I’m here.”
The 2005 A.L. Cy Young winner and the owner of a 146-95 record spanning 11 seasons, Colon settled into his temporary digs and before long had company as PawSox reliever Edgar Martinez pulled up a chair. Colon accompanied Sauveur out to the left field 20 minutes before the scheduled 7:05 first pitch with catcher George Kottaras not too far behind.
Colon didn’t record his first punchout until the third and followed with two strikeouts in both the fourth and fifth innings. The lone hit the Indians notched came in the second, the only walk coming in the fifth. Both came from the same player, Adam Boeve.
Colon was assisted on a double play ball in the second and helped out his own cause in the fifth, snaring a comebacker off the bat of Steve Pearce.
“He looked like an experienced pitcher getting his work in,” said Johnson. “I enjoyed watching him.”
All the offensive support Colon required came in the third. Jeff Bailey led off with a single and Jonathan Van Every followed with a two-run home run into the Pawtucket bullpen. Brandon Moss, who started at first base, drove in a run courtesy of a double. Joe Thurston finished with two hits.
Strong pitching for Pawtucket continued to be the story after Colon exited as four pitchers teamed up for a one-hitter. Craig Hansen struck out three in two innings while Dan Kolb and Lee Gronkiewicz were unscored upon in one inning apiece.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 05 April 2008 )
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