JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: MIDDLE RELIEVER BELSON WILL GET SURPRISE START.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer BAKERSFIELD - Reliever Greg Belson thought he was the least likely candidate to make the spot start the JetHawks need from their bullpen in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday night. But Belson learned Wednesday that he'll make his first start as a professional after 85 relief appearances since his career began in 2000. ``I was very surprised,'' Belson said. ``Besides (closer Jesus) Silva, I thought I'd be last on the list, but it's fine. I'm looking forward to it.'' It's not an altogether unfamiliar role for Belson, who as a starter in college at perennial Division III
Division III (or DIII) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States. power Montclair State (N.J.) threw more than 150 innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. one season. His pitch count in one game exceeded 170. But Belson won't throw nearly that much Saturday. He'll be limited to between 50 and 60 pitches, possibly a little more depending on how well he's throwing and the flow of the game, JetHawks pitching coach Royal Clayton said. ``Just because I'm 5-foot-10 doesn't mean I'm not capable of throwing a lot of innings,'' Belson said. ``It's something I've done my whole life. I'd never been a reliever until I got to pro ball.'' Belson led the parent Arizona Diamondbacks This article is about the baseball team. For other uses, see Diamondback. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a Major League Baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of the National League. organization in saves last season with 16. So far this season, he's been used exclusively in middle relief/setup situations and is 1-3 with a 6.55 ERA in 14 appearances. He's been at his best in his two longest outings. He struck out five and allowed two walks and no runs in 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball on May 11. On April 30, he allowed one hit and no walks in three innings of shutout ball. Belson will be pitching on two days rest. He threw 1 2/3 innings Wednesday night in a 5-3 JetHawks' loss to Bakersfield in what manager Bill Plummer William Francis Plummer (born March 21, 1947 in Oakland, CA) was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the Seattle Mariners. While never a regular player (he was Johnny Bench's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine years), he did play solid defense. said was the equivalent of a between-starts side outing. Belson said he won't approach his start any differently than a relief appearance. ``It's the same thing, whether you're (pitching) in the sixth inning or the first inning. You still have to throw strikes and get people out,'' he said. ``I guess being that I can go more than four or five innings, I probably should pace myself, but in college I never took anything off my pitches so I could have more later in the game. ``Hopefully, I can give the team some quality innings and prove that I'm worthy of starting,'' --The new guy: Outfielder Andy Bevins joined the team Wednesday but hadn't yet been activated. The JetHawks will need to make a roster move to make room for him. Bevins, 26, has been in the St. Louis Cardinals For the National Football League team that played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, see . The St. Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards" or "the Redbirds") are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. system since 1997 but was released at the end of spring training. He's spent parts of the past two seasons at Triple-A and Double-A but hasn't played in six weeks. He hasn't been in A-ball since 1999, when he represented Potomac (Va.) in the California/Carolina League All-Star game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games at Lake Elsinore. ``It really doesn't bother me at all because I've been off for six weeks and this is an opportunity for me to get back into shape and work on what I need to work on so that I can move up,'' Bevins said. --Rest for Green: JetHawks second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Andy Green Wing Commander Andy D Green OBE BA RAF (born 1962), a British RAF F-4 Phantom and Tornado F3 pilot and Officer Commanding Operations Wing at RAF Wittering, is the current holder of the land speed record and the first person to break the sound barrier on land. , who's been bothered by swelling around his thumb on his right hand, was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game Wednesday. He's not sure what caused the injury but believes it's a combination of tendinitis tendinitis or tendonitis Inflammation of a tendon sheath, due to irritation of this thin, filmy tissue by overuse of the tendons, which slide within them, or to bacterial infection. and getting jammed. ``It's been very frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: for me because it's hard to hold onto the bat and it's hard to swing. I've tried to battle through it for a while, but it just doesn't feel the same.'' Green doesn't believe the injury is serious and expects to be back in the lineup for the San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. series, which begins tonight. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: - Greg Belson |
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