Hollister’s Daniel Barone throws complete game 3-hitter against
Triple- A Portland Thursday
Portland, Ore.
After two strong starts recently yielded little in terms of run support, Hollister product and Triple-A Albuquerque pitcher Daniel Barone went the distance last Thursday, throwing a complete game three-hitter against the Portland Beavers en route to a 3-0 win.
“I didn’t give up the big inning,” Barone told MLB.com contributor Alan Friedman. “The big inning had been a problem for me in some games, but not tonight.”
It was Barone’s (1-4, 6.23 ERA) first victory of the season. The right-handed hurler struck out eight without allowing a walk against the Beavers.
Barone, 25, had a no-hitter into the fifth inning when Portland’s Vince Sinisi connected on a single.
“This is a big pick-me-up,” Barone said to Friedman. “I’ve been feeling with each start that I’m getting more confidence. Plus the defense made some great plays behind me and made me feel like things were going my way.
“I was getting the first-pitch strike tonight and that was huge. Just getting strike one makes me feel like I’m able to shut them down.”
Barone had recently thrown 7 and 2-3 shutout innings against the New Orleans Zephyrs on July 21, allowing just two hits. He walked one, struck out nine, but left the game in a scoreless tie.
Previously, on July 14 against the Iowa Cubs, Barone threw 6 and 1-3 innings in another no-decision. Although he scattered 10 hits, the San Benito graduate allowed just three runs – two earned – and struck out five.
Barone was called up to Triple-A Albuquerque on June 28 after spending some time in Double-A Carolina, rehabbing a bad back. In six starts with Carolina, Barone was 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA.
“The biggest thing for me has been to get into a rhythm and be out there pitching every five days,” Barone told Friedman. “Now that my back is feeling better, I can do that.”
