BYRD JUST WINGS IT IN THE CLUTCH.Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer CHICAGO - He does not throw lightning nor stand 6 feet 9. He couldn't intimidate the batboy bat·boy n. A boy who is employed by a baseball team to look after its equipment, especially the bats. . His nickname is not ``Ace.'' Paul Byrd Paul Gregory Byrd (born December 3, 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who plays for the Cleveland Indians. Byrd attended Louisiana State University where he pitched as part of the Tigers baseball team that won the 1991 is a regular guy doing something quite remarkable by pitching effectively in the major leagues, who Tuesday night did something very much needed by the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Angels. The Angels opened their American League Championship Series
Their starter in tonight's Game 2 is Jarrod Washburn, who just started eating solid food after missing his past scheduled start with strep throat Strep Throat Definition Streptococcal sore throat, or strep throat as it is more commonly called, is an infection of the mucous membranes lining the pharynx. Sometimes the tonsils are also infected (tonsillitis). . Weary and fatigued after two red-eye flights in two days, the pitching staff in trouble, the Angels very much needed a huge start in the ALCS ALCS American League Championship Series (baseball) ALCS Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (UK) ALCS Airborne Launch Control System by Byrd. The same Byrd who was rocked by the Yankees in his division series start, allowing four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. After watching rookie Ervin Santana come out of the bullpen Monday to help the Angels win their decisive fifth game against the Yankees when Colon went down, Byrd - pitching on three days' rest - was eager to contribute. ``Santana pulled us up (Monday) and today was my turn,'' Byrd said. ``I was trying to emulate a rookie out there. ``He saved us (Monday) and I wanted to try and save the bullpen tonight.'' The Angels staked Byrd to an early 3-0 lead. He gave up a solo home run to Joe Crede in the third, and one run in the fourth on a pair of singles. End of Chicago's scoring. In six-plus innings, Byrd allowed two runs on five hits and a walk. Nobody was comparing him to Roger Clemens, but Tuesday night there was no one the Angels would rather have had than Byrd. ``That was huge,'' catcher Bengie Molina said. ``Unbelievable. And he's done it all year. He's kept us in games.'' Coming off 2003 Tommy John elbow surgery, Byrd went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA during the regular season. He threw 204 1/3 innings, allowing only 28 walks, a club record over that many innings. No game, however, was as sweet as Tuesday's. ``It's very gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. for me just to be able to come back,'' Byrd said. ``My career hasn't gone exactly like I would like it to with the surgery, so it's gratifying to me to be on this team. ``The fact that Mike (Scioscia) gave me the ball, trusted me after the shaky outing with New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of has done loads for my confidence.'' The bleary-eyed Angels needed a lift Tuesday, and the unassuming Byrd provided it. Steve Dilbeck, (818) 713-3607 stephen.dilbeck(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Catcher Bengie Molina and Paul Byrd talk after a Joe Crede home run - one of only two runs the White Sox managed off the Angels starter. Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press |
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