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Padres right-hander Chris Young has thrown another simulated game as he works his way back from a shoulder injury with the goal of pitching again this season. The 6-foot-10 Young threw 55 pitches in three innings Thursday before the NL West leaders hosted the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks. Young says he felt better as the simulated game progressed. Read more..
Jordan Zimmermann has been recalled by the Washington Nationals to make his first major league start of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals. Zimmermann returned to the big leagues Thursday, just more than a year after having elbow ligament replacement surgery. He last pitched for the Nationals on July 18, 2009, and had the operation on Aug. Read more..
There's something about the Phillies that brings out the best in the Houston Astros. Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven sharp innings, Carlos Lee homered and the Astros beat the Phillies 5-1 Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia in 11 years. "Houston has been a team that for years has given us problems," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. Read more..
TE ATATU - Not even an unwelcome visit from Mother Nature could stop the Wildcats from putting together their longest winning streak of the season.
With a dramatic 7-6 win in 10 innings over the Skyrangers at McLeod Park on Sunday in a game that was delayed by rain for more than 10 minutes, the Wildcats completed the sweep of the Skyrangers and extended their winning streak to five games.
"It's a tremendous game to win. It's a tremendous team to sweep," said Wildcats manager Ken Sommers. "A lot of people participated."
The Wildcats' biggest contributions came from two of the most unlikely sources.
Martin Williams, leading off the bottom of the 10th, had an eight pitch at bat before picking up the walk against Skyrangers closer Andrew Marck. He then stole second, to put himself in scoring position, then advanced to third on a passed ball.
"I felt good because it was a win for my team. It worked out for me and it worked out for my team," said Williams.
Returning from a shoulder injury, Gareth Hooton, who started at centre field, delivered a walk-off single down the left-field line with one out in the 10th inning against Skyrangers reliever Andrew Marck to cap the Wildcats' comeback.
"Hooton has been out for most of the year with his shoulder injury," said Sommers. "I couldn't be happier to see the guy go up there in that situation and get that hit to help us sweep the Skyrangers."
Hooton, in just his 3rd start of the season, contributed three of the 10 Wildcats' hits on the long morning.
"I got the chance to play and do what I did [Sunday]. It feels great," said Hooton. "Hopefully, I'll get more chances to play and I'll do the job."
The Wildcats and Skyrangers had not even started play as rain fell on the the field. There was a downpour during the second inning and, after Wildcats starter Matt Mills retired Dan Tan and clocked Andrew Marck with a fastball inside, the umpires cleared the field. What followed was another typical Auckland summer day.
As the teams huddled in the dugouts, the rain began to ease, and the sun began to break through, with the humidity going through the roof.
The showers interrupted a brilliant performance by Mills.
Mills threw an incredible 176 pitches to get through 10 strong innings Sunday against the Skyrangers. The right hander limited Howick to four hits and a walk, striking out 15.
Mills credited the excellent movement he had on his knuckle with allowing him to put together one of his best outings of the season.
"You could tell by the swings they were taking early. When they're not squaring the ball up, when the first batter of the game hits the ball two inches in front of the plate, that's a pretty good indication that the knuckle is going well [that day]," said Mills.
Skyrangers starter Jamie Wilson was nearly as sharp as Mills. The veteran right-hander held the Wildcats scoreless on six hits and two walks in six innings. Wilson was particularly adept at pitching his way out of tough spots. He left Wildcats runners stranded at third base in the second, third and fourth innings.
Including their sweep of the Skyrangers, the Wildcats have won seven of their eight games since the Spring Series win.
"It's a great weekend," said Sommers. "We beat a very good ballclub. We beat a very experienced ballclub. This should be great for our young kids moving towards nationals."
