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Madsen Completes What He Starts The Cape League may be a pitcher’s showcase, but it’s rare that a hurler gets to show off his stuff for a full nine innings.
But Mike Madsen of Bourne had that opportunity before a passel of scouts in Harwich Saturday night. The Ohio State righthander shut out the 3-0 and looked as strong in the ninth as he did in the first. “I had a low pitch count,” he said afterwards. “A couple of guys early swung at the first pitch and that helped me out. My catcher [Craig Stinson, Texas A&M] called a great game. I attribute this game to him and my defense more than me.” We’ll give credit to Madsen, although shortstop Joe Simokaitis of Nebraska made some very nice plays. “He was incredible,” Madsen said. “And I was able to throw three pitches for strikes today [slider, change up and fastball]. That’s why I was successful. Everything came together.” Madsen is not a big pitcher at 6 feet and 160 pounds, but he throws hard enough and after getting ahead on the count he had the Mariners chasing high fastballs all night. He came into the game with an 0.95 ERA over 19 innings of work and came out with a 0.64. Madsen struck out 11 Mariners, including four over the last two frames. For the record he also recorded eight fly ball outs and seven groundouts. One Mariner was caught stealing. Madsen walked one, gave up just three hits and hit a batter. He’s given up just 10 hits this year in 26 innings and is now 3-0 for the Braves in four starts. “I’m having a good time. I’m really enjoying myself,” Madsen said. Micah Owing had two hits and knocked in a run for Bourne. Simokaitis gave Madsen all the support he’d need with a RBI single to center in the fifth that scored Kyle Padgett, who had walked. Craig Stinson knocked in a run the hard way when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth. By Rich Eldred |
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