06.12.2008 12:34 am
Sharpshooter Todd gunning for promotion
By Derrick Goold
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Called into to finish off what closer Jason Isringhausen started, it took Jess Todd only three pitches to assert his ownership of the game.
Isringhausen threw his 22nd pitch to get his fifth out of his rehab start and then turned the game over to the Todd, the scheduled starter for Wednesday’s Class AA game at Hammons Field. Todd, the Springfield Cardinals’ supernova prospect, threw three consecutive cut fastballs to Arkansas’ Corey Smith. Smith didn’t have a chance.
Todd finished the game, a 6-1 victory, throwing the final 7 1/3 innings and allowing one run (it was unearned). The righthander, taken in the second round of last summer’s draft, struck out six and walked two. He allowed five hits.
To drop his Texas League ERA to 0.83 in seven starts at the level, Todd threw just 83 pitches and 17 of the 20 balls put in play were … yes, on the ground. Of the 63 fastballs he threw, 44 were strikes. Of the 18 sliders he threw, 15 were strikes. He said he only threw five sinkers in the game because it was flat.
[Link]