By James Bailey
Chris Tillman vs David Huff
Norfolk Tides at Columbus Clippers (Triple-A International League)
May 7, 2009
Today’s Matchup comes to us courtesy of a rainout Wednesday night. Rain washed out the Norfolk-Columbus contest, forcing a doubleheader today, starting at 11:15. This is the second twinbill of the series for these two teams, who played a pair on Tuesday night, with Norfolk taking both. At 14-10, the Tides are in second place in the International League South. Columbus, at 11-15, is last in the IL West. Unlike their parent club Orioles, the Tides have pitched well, currently ranking fifth in the 14-team IL with a 3.68 ERA. The Clippers, on the other hand, are just like their major league brethren Indians, posting a 4.65 team ERA, second to last in the league.
Tillman has certainly done his part for Norfolk. Through four starts he owns a 2-0 record and 2.37 ERA. The 6-foot-5 righthander has struck out 21 and allowed just 12 hits in 19 innings of work. His wins have come in his last two starts, the most recent against IL powerhouse Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last Friday. He struck out six and allowed four hits and three runs in five innings in the 14-7 victory. Tillman, 21, spent all of last season at Double-A Bowie, where he went 11-4 with a 3.18 ERA and struck out 154 batters in 134.1 innings. Eastern League hitters batted just .227 against him, though he walked 65 to go with 115 hits. A second-round pick of the Mariners in 2006, Tillman was part of the Orioles’ haul in the Erik Bedard deal. He came to Baltimore along with center fielder Adam Jones, closer George Sherrill, and prospects Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler. He now ranks as the top pitching prospect in the Orioles system. They appear willing to be patient with him as he gains experience at the highest level of the minors.
Huff is coming off his best start of the season, shutting Durham out for six innings in a 14-1 Clippers win. The 24-year-old lefthander held the Bulls to four hits and two walks while striking out four. That brought his record to 4-0 on the season with a 3.21 ERA. In 28 innings he has allowed 22 hits and 11 walks and fanned 23. One of the top pitching prospects in the Indians system, Huff was honored with the Bob Feller Award last year as the organization’s best minor league pitcher. His 2.52 ERA between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Buffalo was tops in the Tribe system and his 143 strikeouts ranked second. Huff was 11-5 overall, including a 6-4 mark at Triple-A. He was leading the Eastern League with a 1.92 ERA at the time of his promotion in early June. A supplemental first-round pick in 2006, Huff was actually drafted twice before then, going to the Angels in the 31st round out of high school in 2003 and the Phillies in the 19th round two years later out of community college. Huff throws a four-seam fastball in the low 90s, a curve, slider, and changeup.
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This was a good duel until the Tides got to Huff in the sixth. Tillman pitched six strong innings to take the victory, giving up two runs and striking out six. He’s now 3-0 for Norfolk. Huff allowed five runs in 5.1 innings and absorbed his first loss of the season. He’s now 4-1.
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