Dennis Edward Neagle, Jr....he and his wife, Jennifer, have a son, Trey (1/6/00)...won the 2001
Rockies Good Guy Award (voted by Denver BBWAA) for all his charity work...donates $100 per strikeout to the Society
for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy...upon signing his current contract, Neagle agreed to contribute a portion of his
salary to the Rockies Youth Fields of Dreams Program...a 1986 graduate of Arundel High School (Gambrills, Md.),
he played baseball, basketball, football and golf...voted Man of the Year by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland,
he was presented the award by the governor...signed by Angelo Giuliane.
2004
Did not pitch in 2004 while recovering from "Tommy John" ligament transfer surgery on July 30, 2003. ... Underwent left shoulder surgery on July 2, 2004. The arthroscopic procedure was to perform a left rotator cuff debridement and repair a left posterior/superior labral tear.
2003
Projected as Colorado's Opening Day starter, Neagle would end up missing 132 of the club's 162 games due to a lingering left elbow
injury...sat out the first 71 games and the final 61, with only 35 days on the active roster in between...he began feeling tightness in his left elbow near
the end of spring training as his innings increased...was placed on the 15-day disabled list March 29 (retro to March 27) and opened the year at extended
spring in Tucson...made just four rehab starts before experiencing more discomfort in the elbow...he was then taken off the rehab assignment, transferred
to the 60-day DL (May 23) and sent back to Denver...began his second rehab assignment June 7 and after two starts was activated by the Rockies
on June 17...unfortunately, Denny's stay in the majors lasted just over a month before he was placed back on the 15-day DL July 22 (retro to July 21),
where he remained until opting for season-ending surgery...on July 30, Neagle underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow to repair the ulnar collateral
ligament (UCL) as well as a nerve transposition...the surgery was performed in Cincinnati by Reds Medical Director Dr. Timothy Kremchek...he
was transferred to the 60-day DL that same day...in seven big league starts, Neagle was 2-4 with a 7.90 ERA in 35.1 innings of work (31 er)...allowed
47 hits, 12 of which were home runs, with 12 walks and 21 strikeouts...worked 6.0-plus innings in each of his first three starts but only once in his final
four...struggled early in ballgames, as he allowed 14 of his 31 runs in the first two innings, including 10 first-inning runs...the Rox were just 2-5 when he
took the mound...was a combined 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA in six rehab starts for High A Visalia and AAA-Colorado Springs (34.0 ip, 9 er)...was 1-0 with 10.0
shutout innings at Visalia and 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in four games at Colorado Springs...walked only 6 in his 34.0 combined innings while striking out
29...after missing the first 71 games, Denny finally made his 2003 ML debut on June 17 vs. San Diego...gave up 3 homers, 2 by Ryan Klesko, accounting
for all 4 San Diego runs in a 4-3 loss...came back and earned a solid 5-3 victory over the Tigers on June 22 at Coors...allowed 3 runs on 6 hits over
a season-high 6.1 innings in what was his first victory since Sept. 4, 2002...won his second game in as many starts with a 5-4 victory at Pittsburgh on
June 28...Denny in the back-to-back wins allowed only 1 walk while striking out 11...but those turned out to be his only two victories of the season, as
he went 0-3 with an 11.65 ERA over his final three outings (17.0 ip, 22 er)...suffered an 8-4 loss to the D'Backs on July 3rd Fireworks Night at Coors
Field (3.0 ip, 9 h, 7 er)...after a no decision July 8 at Arizona, Denny made his seventh and final start in a losing effort July 20 at Pac Bell...a 1-1 tie was
broken open when Alberto Castillo hit a grand slam in the fourth as the Giants rolled 8-4...was placed on the disabled list two days later and underwent
season-ending surgery 10 days later.
2002
The 34-year old southpaw completed his second season as a Rockie,
his 11th in the major leagues ... compiled an 8-11, 5.26 (164.1 ip, 96 er) record
in 35 games, 28 starts, marking his first losing campaign since 1994 ... ranked
second on the team with 111 strikeouts, while walking just 63 ... tossed the club's
only complete game, Aug. 30 at San Diego, as the Rockies tied the major league
record for fewest CG in a single season ... was sent to the bullpen prior to the All-
Star Break and responded with a strong second half, earning his way back into
the rotation ... had a 6.06 ERA (95.0 ip, 64 er) in the first half but lowered that by
almost two whole runs after the break, 4.15 (69.1 ip, 32) ... the opposition hit
.274 (102-for-372) prior to the All-Star game but .254 (68-for-268) after ... rejoined
the rotation on Aug. 2 and went on to have one of his best career months before
an injury to his throwing arm slowed him in September ... overall as a starter,
Neagle was 8-10 with a 5.30 ERA (154.2 ip, 91 er) ... in seven relief appearances,
the lefty was 0-1, 4.66 (9.2 ip, 5 er) ... at Coors Field, Denny 3-5 with a 5.16 ERA
(89.0 ip, 51 er), while going 5-6 with a 5.38 ERA (75.1 ip, 45 er) on the road ... the
Rockies, 12-16 in his 28 starts ... had the most productive hitting season of his 11-year career ... hit a career-best .267
(12-for-45), the fourth best average among major league pitchers (min. 40 AB) ... his 12 hits were a personal-high
and he tied his best of 4 doubles set in 1996 ... began the year as the club's No. 2 starter and earned the victory in
his first outing, April 3 at St. Louis ... allowed only 1 run on 5 hits over 6.0 innings in his 12th career win against St.
Louis, his most against any club ... then got the start in Colorado's home opener April 8 vs. Houston, a losing decision
in which he yielded 3 home runs ... finished April 2-1 with a 5.65 ERA (28.2 ip, 18 er) but turned it around with a strong
May, allowing just 10 earned runs in 35.0 innings (2.57 ERA) ... tossed 8.0 scoreless ip in a 6-0 combined shutout
vs. the Pirates on May 1 ... that, combined with a 10-0 victory the night before, gave the Rockies consecutive
shutouts at home for the first time in franchise history ... Denny was pushed back in the rotation so that he could attend
his father-in-law's funeral in Denver and thus went seven days before his next start May 8 at Montreal (ND) ... on May
14 vs. Florida, lost his first game in over a month, 6-2 to the Marlins ... had one of his better outings of the year May
19 vs. Atlanta, a no decision against Damian Moss despite allowing just one unearned run ... left his May 25th start
vs. San Francisco after 4.0 ip when he was hit in the left knee by a Benito Santiago one-hopper ... suffered a left knee
contusion but did not miss a start, earning the victory with 5.0 shutout innings in his very next outing, May 30 at
Qualcomm ... walked a season-high five but stranded seven Padres, three in scoring position, as the Rox went on
to win 4-2 ... had a rough June, losing all three decisions in five starts with an 8.04 ERA (28.0 ip, 25 er) ... the tough
times carried over into his final start of the first half, July 2 vs. SF, in which he allowed a career-high 10 runs in just
2.0 ip, his shortest outing of the season ... was then moved into
the bullpen prior to the break, making his first relief appearance
as a Rockie on July 7 vs. San Diego (1.1 ip, 2 h, 1 er) ... it
marked the lefty's first relief outing since Oct. 1, 2000 with
the Yankees at Baltimore ... pitched in seven games out of
the bullpen to open the second half ... got the loss on July 30
at Pittsburgh, walking-in the go-ahead run in the eighth
inning ... re-inserted into the rotation after John Thomson was
dealt to the Mets, Denny was outstanding back in his familiar
role ... posted a 2.04 ERA (39.2 ip, 9 er) in six starts during the
month of August, eighth best in the NL ... returned to the rotation
on Aug. 3 at Wrigley Field, holding the Cubs to just 1 run on
2 hits over 6.0 ip in a 2-1 Rockies victory ... the win snapped
his career-high five game losing streak ... then won his second
game in as many starts, tossing 7.0 scoreless innings on
Aug. 9 vs. the Cubs at Coors ... that 2-0 victory, just the second
ever at Coors Field ... duplicated that with another 7.0 shutout
innings on Aug. 14 at Florida, setting a new franchise record
for consecutive scoreless innings by a starting pitcher, 18.0
ip ... broke Darryl Kile's record of 17.2 ip in 1999 ... the streak
ended at 20.0 ip on Aug. 20 vs. Montreal ... only Gabe White
(29.1 in 2000) and Curtis Leskanic (21.2 ip in 1998) own better streaks in club history ... wasn't quite as sharp, but
still held the Expos to just 2 earned runs in 5.0 ip for his third win in four starts ... the win streak was halted with a loss
on Aug. 25 vs. NYM (6.2 ip, 6 h, 4 er) ... tossed the club's one and only complete game despite a 2-0 defeat on Aug.
30 at Qualcomm ... it was Colorado's first CG in 134 games, setting a new single-season NL record for consecutive
incomplete games ... opened September with yet another strong effort, a victory on Sept. 4 at Pac Bell (7.0 ip, 3 h,
1 r, 1 er, 3 bb, 3 k) ... was 4-2, 1.93 ERA (46.2 ip, 10 er) over his last seven starts but that win turned out to be his
last ... lost on Sept. 10 at Houston, allowing all 7 runs to score with two outs (5.2 ip) ... then left his Sept. 15th start after
just 2.2 innings due to tightness in his left forearm ... an MRI after the game revealed that Neagle had floating bone
chips in his throwing arm ... finished out the season but the arm clearly bothered him ... gave up 13 runs, 10 earned,
on 14 hits in just 6.0 innings over his last two starts ... underwent postseason arthroscopic surgery to remove the chips
on Oct. 2 at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Englewood, Colo. ... the procedure was performed by Dr. Richard
Hawkins and Dr. Thomas Noonan.
2001
2001 SEASON... Signed as a veteran to shore up the starting staff Denny was a consistent pitcher all season in the Rockies rotation...finished second to Hampton on the Rockies for wins (9), starts (30), innings pitched (170.2) and led the club in strikeouts (139)...Neagle averaged 7.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched, his best strikeout to inning ratio since 1994 when he posted 8.0 strikeouts per 9.0 innings...his career average is 6.8 (1,283 strikeouts in 1,690.2 innings)....consistent all season Neagle worked at least 5.0 innings in 27 of his 30 starting assignments and allowed three or fewer earned runs in 19 of his 30 starts...Denny was also solid with the bat in 2001, hitting at a .196 clip with a pair of homers including the only grand slam by a major league pitcher during the 2001 season.
WINNING DEBUT...After not walking a batter in 24.0 spring innings Neagle made his Colorado debut on April 4 at Coors Field vs. St. Louis and gave a glimpse of things to come with 5.0 solid innings for the win over the Cardinals...after allowing a two-run homer by Jim Edmonds in the first inning, he settled down and was charged with just one run over the remainder of game in the Rockies 13-9 victory.
SOLID AT COORS... Was very effective at Coors Field going 6-2 in 15 home starts with a 5.70 ERA (79.0 ip, 50 er)...won his first four decisions at Coors Field but the team was even better as the Rockies were 8-0 in Denny's first eight starts at home...for the season the club wound up 11-4 when Neagle started at home.
100 NL WINS...
At Qualcomm Stadium April 19 Denny combined with three relief pitchers to blank the Padres 4-0...it was Neagle's second win of 2001 and the 100th of his NL career...Denny also recorded seven AL wins with the Yankees during his time with New York...also picked up his first hit as a Rockie in the game, a fifth inning double.
The win April 19 in San Diego not only milestone for Denny, but with Hampton and Kane Davis combining on a shutout the previous day, it gave the Rockies consecutive shutouts for the first time in club history.
Ran his record to 4-2 with consecutive start victories May 11 vs. Montreal and then May 17 vs. his former club, the Braves, at Turner Field...worked 7.0 innings in the win over the Expos, which was his season high (Four times).
No decision June 2 vs. San Francisco at Coors Field despite leaving with a 3-2 lead...knocked in the Rockies first two runs of the game with a second inning double.
INJURED HAMSTRING... Won his fifth start in seven decisions, June 8 over St. Louis, but strained his right hamstring scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and was forced to the sidelines...went on the disabled list the next day where he remained through June 23.
- Came off the disabled list June 24 to defeat Arizona for his sixth win on the season and improved his home mark to a perfect 4-0.
- Had a no decision in his next start, June 30 at Arizona and then lasted just 1.0 inning in his next outing, July 7 vs. Anaheim, when his hamstring tightened...with the All-Star break did not miss a start as he next worked July 16 at Oakland.
AT THE BREAK...Finished up 6-2 at the All-Star break with a 4.32 ERA in 16 starts (89.2 ip, 43 er).
FOUR GAME LOSING STREAK...Lost his first four decisions after the break...the four game losing streak tied the longest of his career.
- Allowed nine runs in 5.1 innings vs. the Dodgers at Coors Field on July 21...the most runs he has allowed in any one appearance of his ML career.
- Had a no decision August 12 at Cincinnati in what turned out to be a Rockies 7-6 win due to a five-run ninth inning rally...in the game Neagle recorded the Rockies first hit with a second inning double and then later tied the game in the fifth inning with a two-out solo homer.
- Snapped his four game losing streak with an 8-3 victory over the Marlins at Coors Field August 18...worked 7.0 innings and allowed just two runs, both coming on a two-run Derrek Lee homer.
- Defeated Milwaukee at Miller Park in his next start for his eighth victory of 2001 and gave him wins in consecutive starts for the third and final time in 2001.
- Finished out his month of August with a one-run loss, 5-4, to Los Angeles August 30 at Dodger Stadium...homers by Beltre, Sheffield and Kreuter accounted for four of the five runs Denny allowed.
GOOD START TO SEPTEMBER...Was just 1-0 in four September starts despite three excellent performances to open the month...defeated the Dodgers at Coors Field September 4 for his ninth and final win of 2001...worked 6.0 innings vs. LA and allowed just two earned runs...did not record a decision in his next two starts despite allowing just four earned runs over 12.0 innings...in his final start of September, on the 29th vs. Milwaukee, had a 13-6 lead entering the fifth inning but was unable to finish the fifth to record his tenth win...Brewers had scored three times on three hits to make it a 13-9 game and when Neagle walked a batter with two out in that fifth inning he was removed.
GRAND SLAM... Despite missing his tenth victory on September 29 vs. the Brewers, Neagle did make franchise history by becoming the first Rockies hurler to belt a grand slam...the fourth inning blast off Milwaukee's Jimmy Haynes traveled 392 feet to the Rockies bullpen in right field, and gave Colorado a 13-6 lead.
- It was Neagle's second career slam (other: 6/27/95 at Wrigley Field).
- Denny is the only major league pitcher in 2001 to belt a grand slam.
FINAL START... With Arizona still in a pennant race Neagle was moved up two days to make his final start of the 2001 season, October 4 at Bank One Ballpark...a four-run Arizona first inning was too much for the Rockies and Denny to overcome as he was saddled with his eighth loss...he did settle down to allow just one run on four hits over his final 4.0 innings but Arizona went on to a 5-4 victory.
SECOND HALF...After the break went 3-6 in 14 starts with a 6.56 ERA (81.0 ip, 59 er)...WHEN DENNY STARTED...Rockies were 16-14 in the 30 games that Neagle started...ON THE ROAD...Away from Coors Field the lefthander was 3-6 in 15 starts with a 5.11 ERA (91.2 ip, 52 er).
OVERALL HITTING...In addition to his two homers and nine RBI Denny hit for a .196 average (11-for-56) with four doubles...so with four doubles and two homers, six of his 11 hits went for extra-bases...the grand slam on September 29 was the second of his career, the other June 27, 1995 at Wrigley Field off Jim Bullinger...for his career is now a .158 hitter with five homers and 43 RBI.
2000
SUMMARY
Neagle won 10 of his 12 decisions for the Reds, then went to the Yankees in a July 12 deal and earned his first World Series ring.
- Combined with Cincinnati and New York, Neagle went 15-9 with a 4.52 ERA (209.0 IP, 105 ER), with 81 walks and 146 strikeouts in 34 games, 33 starts.
- The Reds dealt him to the Yankees in a six-player deal, July 12, the day after the all-star game...at the time, Neagle was tied for fourth in the NL with an .800 winning percentage (8-2) and ninth with a 3.52 ERA...over his last four Cincinnati starts, he was 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA (29.2 IP, 7 ER).
- Combined, 18 of his 33 starts were quality (6.0-plus IP, three-or-less ER)...in those 18 games, his clubs were 12-6...seven of his first 11 were quality...the left-hander went at least 7.0 innings 17 times...he allowed two or fewer earned runs in 14 starts and walked two or fewer in 19 of his starts.
- The Reds were 11-7 when he took the hill; the Yankees were 8-7 in his starts (combined 19-14).
- His clubs scored 195 runs in his 33 starts (5.91 per).
- At Cinergy Field before the trade, he went 5-0 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 starts...combined at home for both clubs, he was 10-5 with a 4.35 ERA.
- On the road with the Reds and Yankees, he went 5-4 with a 4.81 ERA.
- On artificial turf, his 3.74 ERA (84.1 IP, 35 ER) finished sixth in the majors.
POSTSEASON
Denny with the Yankees made his second career World Series appearance (1996).
- In the Fall Classic vs. the Mets, he made one appearance, a Game 4 start at Shea (4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) in a no-decision.
- In the championship series vs. the Mariners, he started Games 1 and 5...in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, he allowed only two runs and three hits, including an Alex Rodriguez homer, in a 2-0 loss...in Game 5, he left after 4.2 IP leading 2-1, but two more runs were charged to him in a 6-2 loss...it marked his 10th career championship series game.
- For the fourth time in his career, Neagle did not pitch during his club's division series.
ELEVEN IN A ROW
Neagle won 11 consecutive decisions, his career's longest streak, from Aug. 30, 1999 to June 3, 2000.
- He won his last six 1999 decisions, and his first five in 2000, all five at Cinergy Field.
- During the 20 appearances (19 starts) over the streak, he compiled a 2.93 ERA (95.1 IP, 31 ER).
- In the 11 wins, his ERA was 2.57 (77.0 IP, 22 ER).
- From Aug. 25, 1999 to June 9, 2000, he went 288 days between losses, nearly 10 months.
- Over a longer stretch, from Aug. 30, 1999 to July 23, 2000, he went 16-2...after his 11-game winning streak, he lost two straight, then built a five-game streak...during the five-game stretch (three with Cincinnati and two with the Yankees), from June 26 to July 23, 2000, he had a 1.36 ERA (39.2 IP, 6 ER).
MORE STREAKS
On April 20 at Cinergy, he embarked on a scoreless streak that would reach 21.0 IP...
- On April 26 at Shea, he blanked the Mets on two hits over 7.0 IP, combining on a 12-1 win.
- The stretch ended May 7 vs. St. Louis, with Shawon Dunston's fourth-inning fielder's choice...the Reds went on to win, Neagle's fourth straight winning start.
- The 21.0 innings marked his second-longest scoreless stretch...in 1997, he built a 26.2-inning streak.
- Over three starts, April 20-May 2, Neagle went 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA, allowing one earned run in 21.0 IP, and held hitters to a .129 average (9-for-70)...in the three, Cincy outscored opponents 30-2 (11-1, 12-1, 7-0).
- Over two starts, April 26-May 2, hitters vs. Neagle went 3-for-43 (.070).
OVERALL WITH CINCINNATI
Denny went 8-2 with a 3.52 ERA in 18 games, all starts, for the Reds.
- He got his 1,000th career strikeout, April 4 vs. Milw.
WITH THE YANKEES
The left-hander after the July 12 trade went 7-7 with a 5.81 ERA in 16 games, 15 starts, for the AL East Champions.
- Neagle won his first two Yankee starts, July 18-23, compiling a 1.06 ERA (17.0 IP, 2 ER)...his combined 1.85 July ERA (39.0 IP, 8 ER) ranked fourth in the majors...and, since 1996, his 2.79 July ERA (168.0 IP, 52 ER) is eighth in the game.
- In his New York debut, July 18 vs. the Phillies, he went 8.0 innings in a 3-1 win.
- He posted his 100th career win, July 23 vs. Tampa Bay; in his only 2000 complete game, he hurled a four-hitter, allowing one earned run on one walk and eight Ks...his last CG came Aug. 16, 1998 with the Braves, at Los Angeles.
- On Sept. 7 at Kansas City, he did not allow a walk over 8.0 innings...it marked his longest effort without a walk since June 16, 1998, with Atlanta, vs. Florida.
- He lost his final three starts, compiling a 15.19 ERA.
- In the Oct. 1 finale at Baltimore, he made his first relief appearance since 10/4/99, his third since 1993.
IN SEPTEMBER
On Sept. 17 vs. Cleveland, the Indians handed Denny his first September loss since 9/28/97 at Shea Stadium.
- The September winning streak covered 11 consecutive starts...over the last 15 years, only Randy Johnson owns a longer September streak (19 straight decisions from 1993-99, the modern record).
1999
In his first season with the Reds, Denny went 9-5 with a 4.27
ERA in 20 games, 19 starts.
- Over his last seven starts, he went 6-0 with a 2.20 ERA
(49.0 IP, 12 ER)...the NL's September Pitcher of the Month (his
first award), he went 5-0 with a 2.00 ERA.
- He made his only relief appearance in the one-game
playoff vs. the Mets (2.1 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 2K).
- He began the season on the DL (strained left quad, left
shoulder weakness)...he made his Reds debut April 21 vs. the
Mets (no dec.)...he returned to the DL May 20 with left shoulder
tendinitis...after one other Triple-A rehab start, the Reds
activated him July 30.
- Over his final 13 starts after the second stint on the DL, he
was 9-2 with a 3.11 ERA (84.0 IP, 29 ER).
1998
Denny went 16-11 with a 3.55 ERA, five CG, and two shutouts
for the NL East Champion.
- Neagle helped Atlanta become the second team ever
with five 16-game winners (Glavine 20, Maddux 18, Smoltz 17,
Millwood 17), joining the 1902 Pirates.
- On Sept. 26 vs. the Mets, he made his first relief
appearance in five years and recorded his first relief win since
Aug. 25, 1993.
- In eight of his 11 losses, his club scored two or less.
- In the postseason, he did not pitch in the NLDS sweep of
the Cubs...in the NLCS, he earned Atlanta's first win in the
series, an 8-3 triumph in Game 4.
1997
He set career highs with 20 wins, a 2.97 ERA, 34 starts, four
shutouts, 233.1 IP, and 172 strikeouts...Neagle, whose 20 wins
led the league, finished third in the NL Cy Young and earned
Braves MVP honors (Atlanta writers)...he also made his second
trip to the all-star game...Denny ranked among NL leaders with
an .800 winning pct. (second), four shutouts (tied, second) and
1.9 BB/9 IP (third)...from July 28-Aug. 12, he built a career-long
26.2 scoreless innings streak...Neagle fired 12.0 scoreless
innings in two NLCS games...in Game 4 at Florida, he tossed a
four-hit shutout (1 BB, 7 K).
1996
After Steve Avery went on the DL, the Braves dealt for Neagle
Aug. 28...in Game 2 of the NLCS, he threw 1.0 scoreless inning
of relief; in his Game 4 start, he got a no decision (6.2 IP, 2 H, 2
ER)...in Game 1 of the World Series, he pitched another 1.0
scoreless inning in relief, and also started a Game 4 no
decision (5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER).
1995
The first-time all-star tied for the NL lead with 31 starts and
209.2 IP...on June 23 vs. Montreal, he hurled a two-hitter for his
first major league shutout...on June 27 at Chicago, he hit a
grand slam off Jim Bullinger, his second career HR...he also
registered the NL's third-best BB/9 IP ratio, 1.9...Pittsburgh went
18-13 in his 31 starts.
1994
On April 6 at Candlestick Park, Denny no-hit the Giants over the
first 5.0 IP, but sustained a 4-2 loss...on June 8 vs. the Giants,
he turned in his first complete game...on May 22 vs. Montreal,
he singled off Pedro Martinez for his first big-league hit...on July
25 vs. the Cubs, he hit his first HR.
1993
Neagle opened the year in relief and made seven appearances
before his first start, June 3 at San Francisco...he notched wins
in each of his first two starts...optioned to Buffalo July 26, he
spent a week at Triple-A before Pittsburgh recalled him Aug.
3...the next day at Wrigley, he earned his season's only save...in
seven starts, he went 2-3 with a 5.51 ERA...in relief, he was 1-2,
with a 4.44 ERA.
1992
Obtained by the Pirates March 17, he pitched two relief games,
then made his first start, April 21 at Montreal...on May 2 at
Houston, he got his first major league win...on June 9 at the Vet,
he picked up his first big-league save...in the NLCS vs. Atlanta,
he appeared twice, both in relief.
1991
On July 27, he made his ML debut, a start vs. Milwaukee (he left
after Candy Maldonado's fourth-inning line drive shot off his
elbow)...on the DL July 31-Aug. 12, he pitched his first career
relief game Aug. 13...recalled again by the Twins Sept. 7.
1990
The Twins' Minor League Player of the Year, he was a
combined 20-3 with a 2.10 ERA (the second Twins minor
leaguer to win 20 games, Jim Ollom, 1966)...he ranked fifth
among all minor league pitchers with 186 strikeouts.
1989
He began his career with Elizabethtown (R); the Twins
promoted him to Kenosha (A), July 19.