SP Danny Salazar: Fans 5 to finish off shutout
by Chuck Murr of IndiansInk.net, October 1, 2009 at 12:34am ET
Danny Salazar Profile
Danny Salazar struck out five over the final 2 2-3 innings to combine with three others on a three-hit shutout as Cleveland defeated Cincinnati 9-0 in an Arizona Instructional League game.
Salazar followed Alex White, Gregorio Rosario and Francisco Jimenez to the mound for the Indians. All four are interesting stories and each one performed well.
White, the Indians' first-round draft pick in June, gave up two hits and struck out one over two innings. The right-hander topped out at 95 mph, threw first-pitch strikes to five of the seven batters he faced and used only 18 pitches.
White didn't sign until minutes before the deadline on Aug. 18. His action in Arizona this fall is his first as a professional.
Rosario, who missed much of the past two seasons after having Tommy John surgery, then worked two hitless innings. He walked one, struck out two, and hit a top speed of 91 mph, throwing first-pitch strikes to five of eight batters faced.
Rosario, acquired from Seattle in 2007 for right-hander Jason Davis missed all of 2008. He came back late this summer to work 10 2-3 innings for the Indians' team in the Arizona League, going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA, allowing four hits and fanning seven.
The right-hander turned 21 in August and if healthy, still has a bright future.
Jimenez then gave up one hit and two walks over 2 1-3 innings, striking out one. He wasn't as efficient as the Indians' other pitchers, needed 37 pitches and throwing first-pitch strikes to only four of 10 men faced.
The little lefty turns 21 on Friday and is coming off a breakout season. In 19 games between the Arizona Indians (1-0, 2.16 ERA) and Lake County Captains (7-0, 2.35 ERA), he had quite a summer. In 47 1-3 innings overall, Jimenez struck out 59 and walked only seven.
Salazar then closed it out, hitting a top speed of 94 mph on 29 pitches, including first strikes to six of eight men faced. He doesn't turn 20 until January.
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