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Hochevar wins for first time in majors
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former University of Tennessee star Luke Hochevar picked up his first big league win in just his third career start, but he’s already sounding like a wily veteran giving all the credit to the guys playing behind him.
“I can’t stand here and say I pitched a good game,” Hochevar said. “We played unbelievable defense. With the type of pitcher I am, I need a good defense. I try to induce contact and get ground balls. With a defense this good, it makes it very easy to do so.”
Jose Guillen provided the power, hitting his first home run at Kauffman Stadium with the Royals, and Tony Pena Jr. made a game-saving defensive play as Kansas City edged the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 Saturday night.
“You dream of that since you’re a little kid,” said Hochevar, who was given the game ball and lineup card. “To get the first one is pretty surreal.”
Hochevar (1-1), the first selection in the 2006 draft, held Toronto to six hits and one run in six innings in his seventh major league appearance. He struck out three and walked two.
“Fate loves the fearless, so I wanted to come out and pound the strike zone,” Hochevar said. “This is my first major league outing that I haven’t had an unbelievable amount of adrenaline rush. I was able to be myself. Those are my key points — throw strikes, keep the ball down and get ahead.”
The Blue Jays went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded four runners at third base. Toronto stranded 10 runners in all, including seven in scoring position.
“When I get in those tough situations, I need to go to my strengths and I felt like tonight I did a good job with that,” Hochevar said. “I threw fastballs down in the zone and induced ground ball
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by Einstein on April 27, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Luke. I hope you get 299+ more wins.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 27, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
awesome
Posted by UTfan4life on May 1, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i watched that one on MLB.tv, a well pitched game, had nice control of his curve, with top notch velocity on his fastball as well.
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