May 23, 2012, 5:55PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Vinnie Pestano has a direct approach when it comes to pitching. When he takes the mound, he's does so to strikeout the opposing hitter.He's not pitching to contact. He's not trying to induce ground balls or fly balls. He there for the K, swinging or called.
In Tuesday's 5-3 victory by the Indians over Detroit, Pestano pitched a one, two, three eighth inning. He struck out Alex Avila for the third out. It gave him at least one strikeout in his last 22 consecutive appearances.
It's not Bob Feller setting the club record in strikeouts with 2,581, but it is a team record. Pestano passed Paul Shuey to claim the record for his own. The streak started on Sept. 25, 2011.
"A record is a record, I guess," said Pestano. "Until somebody else comes along, it's mine."
Pestano (1-0, 2.55, one save) has 24 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings over 20 appearances. Last year Pestano finished fifth in the AL among relievers with 84 strikeouts as a rookie.
"I try to strikeout everybody out that I face," said Pestano, who leads the AL with 11 holds. "I was aware of it. I don't try to pitch to contact. The least amount of opportunity they have to put the ball in play, the fewer amount of hits they're going to get.
"If I can try and keep the ball away from somebody and punch them out, I'm going to try and take that opportunity."
No comments:
Post a Comment