Mike Stutes Makes MLB Debut, Becomes 25th Former Beaver At Highest Level
April 26, 2011
PHOENIX - Right-handed pitcher Mike Stutes threw one scoreless inning in Philadelphia's 4-0 loss to Arizona at Chase Field Monday night, becoming the 25th former Oregon State player to play at the Major League level.
Stutes was selected by the Phillies from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday when they placed Jose Contreras on the 15-day disabled list. He entered the game in relief of Cliff Lee in the eighth, and struck out one in facing just three batters.
Stutes needed just nine pitches, seven of which went for strikes, to get out of the inning. He forced Chris Young to fly out to left, then struck out Kelly Johnson before inducing Justin Upton into a pop out to first base.
Prior to being selected by the Phillies, Stutes had appeared in seven games at the Triple-A level, accumulating a 2-1 record and 1.80 earned run average with one save in 10 innings. He had 14 strikeouts.
A native of Lake Oswego, Ore., Stutes played three seasons for the Beavers, from 2006-08, and was an 11th-round selection by the Phillies in 2008. He finished his OSU career with a 24-13 record and 4.17 ERA. He tallied 287 strikeouts in 302 innings, placing him third in team history.
Stutes was near perfect in the postseason while with the Beavers, going 5-0, with a 3-0 mark at the College World Series, helping guide the club to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. In 46 innings in the postseason, he finished with a 4.50 ERA and 38 strikeouts while opponents batted .240 against him.
With his promotion on Sunday, Stutes became the fourth former Beaver at the Major League level this season, one shy of the school record of five in 2008.
Darwin Barney is batting .320 over 21 games for the Chicago Cubs, and hit his first career Major League home run on Monday in the team's 5-3 loss to Colorado at Wrigley Field. It came in the first inning against Colorado starter Esmil Rogers.
Jacoby Ellsbury is in his fourth full season with the Boston Red Sox and has posted three doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI in 21 games this season. He also has five stolen bases and seven walks. Ellsbury was 2-for-5 Sunday in Boston's most recent game as the Red Sox downed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in California.
Stutes' former teammate, Joe Paterson, was also at Chase Field on Monday as a member of the Diamondbacks but did not pitch. Paterson, a left-handed specialist for Arizona, has thrown in 10 games this season, accumulating 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed just two hits and two walks. His last appearance came Sunday at the New York Mets and threw 1/3 of an inning, striking out one.
Stutes' former team, the Beavers, step out of conference play to visit Portland Tuesday at Joe Etzel Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. PT.
Catch the game on the Beaver Sports Radio Network and Beaver Nation Online (osubeavers.com). For updates throughout the day, follow the official Oregon State baseball Twitter page by going to www.twitter.com/Beaver_Baseball.
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