Mike Venafro #43

Michael Robert Venafro...wife Lisa (Kamenar)...sons Jake (11/11/95), Drew (11/27/03), twins Luke and Dane (8/4/06) and daughter Isabella (10/23/02)...1991 graduate of Paul VI (Fairfax, VA) High School...1995 graduate of James Madison University with a degree in social sciences and economics.

2006

Began season at Triple-A Louisville...pitched a season high 1.2 innings in relief on July 3 at Columbus, giving up no hits and striking out two...finished eight games and recorded two saves from June 9-13...was released, signed minor league contract with Colorado and transferred to Colorado Springs on July 20...won his second outing on July 23 at Sacramento, tossing 1.0 inning and striking out two...had two-game win streak from July 23-August 11...contract selected by Colorado on September 7...earned a win in his first appearance on September 9 vs. Washington.

2005

Earned a save on April 20 vs. Salt Lake City, tossing 1.1 innings and striking out two...recorded a season-high with three strikeouts twice...tossed a season-high 3.0 innings on May 9 vs. Sacramento...finished 13 games...did not allow an earned run in eight appearances, July 30-August 19...had an earned run average of 1.74 (10.1 ip, 2 er) in August.

2004

Began season at Omaha...earned a save in first appearance on April 25 vs. Albuquerque, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings...recorded first win on June 1 vs. Oklahoma, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings...was winning pitcher, tossing 3.1 innings, July 20 vs. Memphis...outrighted and traded to Los Angeles (NL), August 9...pitched in five games, totaling 6.1 innings before having contract selected by Los Angeles (NL), September 3... pitched a season-high 2.0 innings on August 22 vs. Atlanta giving up one run on three hits...outrighted October 15.

2003

Signed with Atlanta, January 13...released March 26...signed with Tampa Bay, March 28...did not allow a run in his first three appearances, April 1-4...did not allow a run in nine appearances from April 15-May 3...tossed a season-high 3.0 innings on May 31 vs. Anaheim, giving up one run on four hits...designated for assignment and released from Tampa Bay on June 30...signed minor league contract with Houston on July 10 and was transferred to New Orleans...had two-game win-streak from August 5-8, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings in relief...released from organization on August 29...signed with Kansas City, November 21.

2002

Began season at Oakland...picked up his first win on April 21 vs. Anaheim, tossing 1.2 innings in relief...did not allow a run in ten consecutive appearances from April 13-May 19...was 1-1, 1.64 (11.0 ip, 2 er) in May...picked up second win on May 31, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings at Tampa Bay...designated for assignment on July 29...contract selected to Oakland on September 4.

2001

Was 1-0-1, 3.12 (8.2 ip, 3 er) in his first 14 games...tossed a season-high 2.1 innings in relief on June 1 vs. Minnesota...was 3-0-2, 1.54 (11.2 ip, 2 er) with an opponent batting average of .150 (6-for-40) from June 24-July 25...was 3-0, 1.74 (10.1 ip, 2 er) in 11 games in July... held opposing batters to a .165 (18-for-109) batting average from May 3-July 26...earned a 2.0 inning victory on September 4 vs. Minnesota...tied for eighth in league in appearances.

2000

Picked up his first win on May 21 vs. Baltimore with 0.2 innings of relief...was 1-0, 1.54 (11.2 ip, 2 er) with an opponents batting-average- against of .162 in 15 games in May...was 2-0, 0.00 (5.1 ip) in nine games from August 22-September 3...earned his only save on September 20 at Minnesota...was 2-1, 2.96 (24.1 ip, 8 er) in 34 games after the All-Star break...recorded 17 holds...finished second in league with 77 appearances.