Sept. 2, 2008

Thomas Pitches Perfect Ninth Inning in Major League Debut

    Youngstown -- It didn't take long for former Youngstown pitcher Justin Thomas to make his Major League debut.
    Hours after being called up to the Seattle Mariners as part of the September roster expansion, Thomas came on to retire the middle of the Texas order in the bottom of the ninth inning on Monday.
    With the Mariners leading 12-6, Thomas, wearing No. 60, got all-star designated hitter and clean-up man Milton Bradley to fly out to center on his first big-league pitch. Thomas then got Hank Blalock to fly out to center, and he struck out Marlon Byrd on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.
    Thomas threw a total of 13 pitches, nine of which were strikes. The only time he was behind in the count was when he threw a first-pitch ball to Blalock.
    Thomas' debut came after a historic moment in Major League Baseball. His teammate, Adrian Beltre, hit for the cycle just hours after Arizona's Stephen Drew. It was the first time since Sept. 17, 1920, that two players hit for the cycle on the same day, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
    Ironically, the last Penguin to make his Major League debut was also part of history. Brad Hennessey made his first career start for the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 7, 2004, in Greg Maddux's 300th win.