A.J. Blubaugh Stars In Sugar Land Shutout
In the first day of Pacific Coast League-International League interleague play, Sugar Land righthander A.J. Blubaugh (Astros) retired 10 in a row at one point and held the Durham Bulls to just four hits in six scoreless innings. Blubaugh struck out three in the first, and worked out of a jam in the second by striking out Kenny Piper. From then on, he was untroubled. He allowed just one more baserunner (a Chandler Simpson single) and Simpson was quickly retired on a double play when Eloy Jimenez flew out while Simpson was attempting to steal second. Blubaugh topped out at 97 mph, and he was consistently in the zone with his fastball, but it was his sweeper that stifled the Bulls. He got six swings-and-misses on the pitch and threw 13 of 16 sweepers for strikes.
