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Stolp gets first start

Righthander has first start in four years

Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 6:34 PM)

Ex-Badger shakes off the cobwebs in his first starting appearances

It has been a long time since Eric Stolp started a game. In fact April 2005, his junior year at the University of the Pacific, was the last time the 2002 Yosemite grad threw the opening pitch in a baseball game.

Now the right-handed Stolp started twice for the San Francisco Giants class "A" affiliate Augusta Greenjackets last week.

On Friday June 12, Stolp got the start in place of Ari Ronick, who was scratched because of a sore back.

The ex-Badger pitched five scoreless innings, holding the Savannah Sand Gnats (NY Mets) to two ground singles, three walks and one hit batsman with no strikeouts.

What made it even more impressive was that All 15 of the putouts were groundouts from his sinkerballer.

Prior to that start, Stolp (2 wins, 1 loss) had thrown 28 1/3 innings in middle relief, giving up eight earned runs on 31 hits, nine walks and 13 strikeouts.

Stolp got the starting call again last Wednesday against the Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves).

He lasted four innings, surrendering four runs, three earned, on four hits and four walks. Stolp did not get the decision in either game.

Stolp, a 14th-round selection by the San Francisco Giants in the 2006 Major League draft, is in his fourth minor league season.

Previous to the Greenjackets, Stolp pitched for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and the Arizona League Giants.

Around the Horn

Ex-Yosemite Badger Ted Lilly, in his 13th season in the majors (third with the Chicago Cubs), could be looking at an invitation to the National League pitching staff for July's MLB All-Star game. The southpaw leads the Cubs with a 7-4 won-lost record in 14 starts this season.

Lilly's seven victories is seventh in the NL and his ERA of 3.04 is ninth. He has 75 strikeouts and has given up 20 walks.

The all-star game will be held in Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14.