Sean Newcomb wasn't flawless in his Class AA debut Sunday. But the Los Angeles Angels' No. 1 overall prospect was good enough to keep the Arkansas Travelers in the game and elicit praise from his manager.
Newcomb gave up 3 hits and walked 5, but also struck out 5 in 5 innings. The Travs couldn't get him the victory though, as they needed a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth from Anthony Bemboom for the winning run in a 4-3 victory over the Tulsa Drillers at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Newcomb, the 15th overall pick in last year's draft out of the University of Hartford, left wanting to have been a bit more fine in his first start at his third level in 2015. But he was pleased with how he finished, striking out the final two batters in the fifth with 94-mph fastballs.
"It was all right," said Newcomb, ranked by MLB.com and Baseball America as baseball's third-best left-handed pitching prospect. "I wasn't nervous but all of the the emotions of making my debut here. I was just trying to be too fine with some of those pitchers.
"I'm overall happy with my performance, I just feel like I can do better."
Arkansas Manager Bill Richardson didn't have any problem with what he saw Sunday.
"I couldn't be happier," Richardson said. "I don't know what it's like to be a No. 1 draft pick. To come up here with the expectation that if you don't blow people away [you'll be disappointed]. The ball came out good and he was tremendous."
Newcomb has been one of the fastest risers of the Angels' recent draft picks. He started this season in Class A Burlington, was promoted to high Class A Inland Empire in June where he was a combined 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 100 innings.
He wasn't that sharp Sunday, walking Adam Law in the first and giving up a two-out single to Farmer that gave Tulsa a 1-0 lead. He gave up a two-out single in the second, then walked a batter in the third and issued 3 walks in the fourth while tying a season-high 5 walks while throwing 101 pitches in 5 innings.
"I was just trying to be too fine with some of my pitches," said Newcomb, who threw fastballs, curveballs and changeups. "I know I can get myself out of it, but maybe next time I'm not getting myself into it."
Richardson was fine with the walks while watching Newcomb's velocity stay consistent even as he passed 100 pitches. He struck out Brian Burgamy to end the first, then Peter Lavin and Yadir Drake to start the second. After Law grounded out to start the fifth, Newcomb struck out Lars Anderson and Farmer on fastballs.
"He lost focus on a couple of walks but what I really look at is how the fastball beat some guys," Richardson said. "You start beating guys with a fastball it says a lot about the type of pitcher he is."
Newcomb exited with a 3-2 lead after the Cal Towey singled and scored in the third and Raywilly Gomez hit a two-run double in the fourth.
Tulsa tied the game in seventh when Jeremy Rathjen singled and scored and the game was still tied entering the bottom of the ninth.
Ruben Sosa led off with a pinch hit single to center, then moved to third on Brian Hernandez's high-chopping single to left field. After Towey struck out, Bemboom laid down a bunt that scored Sosa, who slid underneath a high throw from Tulsa pitcher Ryan Dennick, to close a homestand in which the Travs went 6-2.
The eighth last at-bat victory of the season was set up by Sosa, who pinch hit for Wade Hinkle because Richardson said it's a role he'll have to get used to.
"He's got to be ready to go," Richardson said. "I'm not sure he was totally prepared. I'm glad to see him come through at a good time and we trust him. We'll use him any time."
Sports on 08/03/2015