TEXAS LEAGUE : Simmons’ pitching, timing stifle Travs
Posted on Friday, July 4, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/230473/
MIDLAND, Texas — From the Arkansas Travelers’ perspective, James Simmons has lousy timing.
Simmons had the best performance of his professional career Thursday, pitching eight shutout innings as the Midland RockHounds defeated the Travelers 4-0 at Citibank Ballpark.
Simmons, who was the Oakland Athletics’ first-round pick in the 2007 amateur draft, finished the eighth inning for the first time as a professional. He struck out 5 batters and walked 1 while allowing 4 hits. Simmons (3-4 ) also used his glove to snuff out the Travelers’ best scoring opportunity.
With Midland leading 2-0 in the fourth, Arkansas’ Adam Morrissey hit a leadoff double and moved to third on a passed ball. But Simmons retired Brian Stavisky on a lineout to second, then caught a screaming line drive off the bat of Ben Johnson to end the threat.
The Travelers didn’t get a runner past first base the rest of the way.