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Minix helps 'Pigs end losing streak

One-day callup: Pitcher comes up from Double-A Reading, pitches four innings in opener.

By Jeff Schuler | Of The Morning Call

August 29, 2008

Travis Minix knows all about sudden changes.

In early June, the 31-year-old right-hander was days away from getting on a plane to play in Italy when the Phillies called to offer him a spot at Double-A Reading.

Early Thursday, two days after pitching two innings for the R-Phils against Connecticut, Minix was told to get to Coca-Cola Park, where he would start for the IronPigs in the opener of that night's doubleheader against Syracuse.

''I was a little surprised, but when the situation comes you've just got to strap it on,'' Minix, who was in the organization in 2005 and 2006, said. ''You pitch whenever you can.''

Minix handled his part superbly, allowing two hits and two runs in four innings to help the IronPigs halt a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 win.

Syracuse bounced back in the nightcap to gain a split with a 4-1 victory before a crowd of 9,350 that moves the IronPigs to within fewer than 18,000 of reaching 600,000 in attendance for their first year.

Minix didn't get the win -- that went to Steve Green (5-1), who pitched the fifth inning before Stephen Randolph earned his fourth save -- but he did his job, throwing 30 of his 47 pitches for strikes to the first 10 batters he faced. He struck out three and walked just one.

''I didn't think I'd feel this good after the game,'' said Minix, who had made six spot starts among 22 appearances for the R-Phils and was sent back to Reading after the game to make room for Andy Tracy's return.

''All you can do is hope for the best in those situations,'' IronPigs manager Dave Huppert said. ''At this time of the year, everyone's strapped for pitching.''

Randolph's save came with a major assist from shortstop Mike Rouse.

With Hector Luna on second with one out in the seventh, Rouse went airborne behind second base to snag Pedro Lopez's bouncer in the infield, forcing Luna to stop at third.

Rouse left the game with a jammed right shoulder and will be examined today.

Randolph then needed just seven pitches to strike out Buck Coats and Danny Sandoval to end the game.

It was the second run Rouse took away from the Chiefs (66-71). Playing with the infield in during the fourth after Russ Adams' two-run, game-trying triple, Rouse made a diving stop on Kevin Mench's one-hopper up the middle, holding Adams at third while completing the play for the second out.

Minix then got Kevin Melillo on a groundout.

Green, who surrendered an unearned run in the fifth, also flashed some leather, pouncing off the mound to make a lunging catch on Sandoval's drag bunt attempt to the right of the mound to end the inning with the tying runner at third.

''We executed in the first game, bunted guys over, got the big base hit, played good defense,'' Huppert said. ''We haven't been doing that lately.''

Rouse also had a hand in the winning rally in the bottom of the fourth. After T.J. Bohn's leadoff broken-bat single, Rouse dropped a perfect bunt down the first-base line and reached on a single when pitcher Brent Cecil couldn't make the scoop with his glove to first.

After a Casey Smith sacrifice, Brandon Watson dumped a two-run single to left.

As they had done in nine of their previous 10 games, the IronPigs (54-86) struck first in the opener on Mike Cervenak's two-run double in the third.

Brian Mazone (9-12) pitched the second game on two days rest -- most likely to create an opening for Adam Eaton to start Saturday night's game -- and allowed six hits, three walks and three runs.

''He gave us what he had on a couple days rest,'' Huppert said. ''He went out there and gutted through three innings.''

Doubles by Jon Knott and Oscar Robles knocked in the only IronPigs' run in the fourth.

jeff.schuler@mcall.com

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