O a M G - Oakland Athletics

of 16 save chances…combined with Jason Jennings and Tom Martin on the first one-hitter in Rockies
franchise history June 20 vs. Oakland…was selected to pitch for a team of MLB players touring Japan
from Nov. 2-8, making two appearances…tossed a shutout ninth inning to save MLB’s 8-6 win Nov.
4 in Tokyo…blew the save in his final game Nov. 8 in Fukuoka, allowing one run on three hits in 0.2
innings.
2005—Spent the season in the Rockies’ bullpen, emerging as one of the National League’s top closers
after being moved to that role in mid-May…was the team’s lone All-Star representative…was selected
to the National League team in his first career appearance on an All-Star roster for the July 12 game in
Detroit…did not appear in the game, but became the first reliever in franchise history to be selected to
the NL roster…went 2-5 with a 2.91 ERA in 78 relief appearances…finished the year with 31 saves,
which was ninth-most in the NL…was successful in 31 of 34 (91.2%) save opportunities, which ranked
sixth in the majors…converted each of his final 17 save chances beginning July 25, setting a single season
franchise record…led the Rockies with 78 appearances, which tied for fourth-most in the NL…had
91 strikeouts, which was the second-highest total among NL relievers…opposing batters hit just .218…
established career highs in games and strikeouts…lefties hit just .167…from May 1-July 9, his last outing
prior to the All-Star break, compiled a 1.72 ERA over 31 appearances.
2004—Missed 62 games with a strained back muscle and landed on the disabled list for the first time in
his major league career, June 7 to Aug. 14…when healthy, was used primarily in late situations, never
making an appearance before the seventh inning…41 of his 47 appearances came in the eighth inning
or beyond…finished with the highest ERA (5.64) of his professional career but still had 48 strikeouts in
44.2 innings…retired 35 of 47 first batters faced (.745)…made Colorado’s Opening Day roster for the
second straight year and began the season by pitching scoreless baseball in 14 of his first 16 appearances,
allowing just 17 baserunners while holding the opposition to a .183 average…was especially tough on
left-handed batters before the back injury, holding them to a .143 clip throughout April and May…after
a rehab stint at Triple-A Colorado Springs from Aug. 3-14, returned to the Rockies and made four appearances
in his first week back.
2003—Led the Rockies’ staff in ERA (2.75), opponents average (.231) and relief innings (75.1) and tied
for the team lead in appearances (75)…the opposition hit just .205 with runners on base…totaled 82
strikeouts in 75.1 innings (9.8 per nine innings)…beginning July 1, took the mound from eighth inning
on in 34 of his final 39 appearances…was 4-for-6 in save opportunities…posted a 2.40 ERA and three
saves at Coors Field while allowing just two home runs…held right-handed batters to a .227 average
and left-handers to a .238 mark with only one home run…retired 52 of 75 first batters faced (.693) and
stranded 76% of his inherited runners (31 of 41)…was on his first Opening Day roster and was with
the club all season…had at least one strikeout in 13 straight appearances from April 23-May 26, during
which he posted 21 strikeouts in 13.0 innings…was named “co-closers” in late June…notched his first
Major League save July 2 vs. Arizona…did not allow a run during the entire month of August, covering
13 games and 13.0 innings.
2002—Split time between Triple-A Colorado Springs and the Rockies…with Colorado, he retired 20
of 31 first batters faced…allowed 6 of 16 (37.5%) inherited runners to score…limited righties to a .155
average but lefties hit .381…opened the season at Colorado Springs, appearing in 21 games before being
recalled May 29…after three games with the Rockies, was optioned to Colorado Springs June 5…
recalled just two days later June 7 to replace an injured Kent Mercker…saw action in four interleague
contests before again being optioned back to Triple-A June 18…called up for the third time July 5 and
was sent down after seven appearances, July 30…recalled for the fourth and final time Aug. 23 and was
stellar the rest of the year…from Aug. 23 to Sept. 26, yielded just three earned runs in 16.2 innings (1.62
ERA)…posted an 8.0-inning scoreless streak, Sept. 17-22, covering six appearances with 12 strikeouts…tied
a club record by recording five consecutive strikeouts Sept. 21 vs. Arizona.
2001—Spent most of season at Triple-A Tacoma but had two stints at the major league level with Seattle…made
the transition from starter to a reliever…recalled from Tacoma May 31 and made his Major
League debut June 2 vs. Tampa Bay in relief (0.2 ip)…made three more relief appearances, earning his
first win June 12 at Colorado…optioned to Tacoma June 15 and recalled June 23…after six more games
with the Mariners, was optioned to Tacoma July 20, where he remained for the rest of the year…went on
128 > 2011 Oakland athletics Media Guide