metmagic
05-02-2002, 08:15 PM
WAY TO GO ERIK!!!!:jump::jump2::dance2:
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Hiljus a hit in Bronx debut
No. 5 starter strikes out nine in A's victory
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/images/2002/05/01/4SgxeZ4B.jpg
Oakland pitcher Erik Hiljus was thrilled to win his first-ever start at Yankee Stadium against a pitcher like Mike Mussina. (Mark Lennihan/AP)
NEW YORK -- Warming up in the A's bullpen, out beyond the left field wall at Yankee Stadium and a fastball away from hallowed Monument Park, Erik Hiljus was nervous.
He'd never before pitched in the Bronx, and the challenge awaiting Wednesday was daunting. Mike Mussina was on the mound for the Yankees, who had a lineup loaded with lefties hoping to take advantage of (a) Hiljus' propensity for giving up long balls and (b) the short porch in right field.
"I was definitely feeling it," Hiljus said. "This being my first time here, going against Mussina, I was a little jumpy."
Four hours later, Hiljus was figuratively jumping for joy. The right-hander handcuffed the Yankees on four hits over five innings while striking out nine in Oakland's 4-1 victory.
"I guess on paper, me against Mussina at this park probably looks like a mismatch," Hiljus said. "But I'm not gonna back down from anybody. I like to get after it, and tonight I had it going."
He's had it going for much of his big-league career. Since getting called up from Triple-A Sacramento last year and making his first start at Texas on June 30, he's been on the losing end of a decision only once. His record was 5-0 last year, and his win Wednesday bumped his 2002 record to 3-1.
The No. 5 starter in a rotation that features a front end of Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito, Hiljus has the best winning percentage in the season's first four weeks. Only Hudson (3-2) has as many wins.
"He's picked up where he left off last year," said manager Art Howe. "I was proud of him tonight. He pitched a heck of a game against a pretty tough customer."
Hiljus wanted to go deeper into the game, but Howe lifted him after Derek Jeter's leadoff double in the sixth. Hiljus had thrown 94 pitches, but the look on his face as he walked off the mound with Jason Giambi in the on-deck circle said pretty clearly that he'd have liked the chance to throw a few more.
"Yeah, I didn't want to come out, but that's just me being me," Hiljus admitted. "I'm a battler, and I wanted to battle Giambi."
Alas, Howe had made up his mind before Hiljus took the hill for the sixth, and when Hiljus heard that, he was fine with the decision.
"If he's have just been reacting to Jeter's hit, then I'd have been a little bummed," Hiljus explained. "But he had already decided that I was going to stay out there until they got a baserunner, so that's cool.
"And the more I thought about it, the more I knew he made the right call. The Yankees made me battle tonight, and for the amount of innings I had thrown, I'd thrown a lot of pitches."
Said Howe, "We had the bullpen fresh, and I wasn't going to let Giambi do something crazy and get them back in it. ... Erik did his job."
The Yankees sounded glad to see Hiljus go.
"He worked his fastball in and out, hit his spots when he had to," said Shane Spencer, one of only three right-handed hitters in New York's starting lineup. "When a pitcher has his control, they can get you. We didn't hit many balls hard tonight."
Added manager Joe Torre: "We don't get good whacks at him."
Nor did the ghosts of Monument Park. Hiljus said they were haunting him a bit before the game, but those nerves were a non-factor thereafter.
"Oh, they went away once I was on the mound," he said. "If you're nervous on the mound, I don't care where you are. You're gonna get lit up. Once I'm on the mound, it's strictly business, bro. Strictly business."
* * * *
Hiljus a hit in Bronx debut
No. 5 starter strikes out nine in A's victory
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/images/2002/05/01/4SgxeZ4B.jpg
Oakland pitcher Erik Hiljus was thrilled to win his first-ever start at Yankee Stadium against a pitcher like Mike Mussina. (Mark Lennihan/AP)
NEW YORK -- Warming up in the A's bullpen, out beyond the left field wall at Yankee Stadium and a fastball away from hallowed Monument Park, Erik Hiljus was nervous.
He'd never before pitched in the Bronx, and the challenge awaiting Wednesday was daunting. Mike Mussina was on the mound for the Yankees, who had a lineup loaded with lefties hoping to take advantage of (a) Hiljus' propensity for giving up long balls and (b) the short porch in right field.
"I was definitely feeling it," Hiljus said. "This being my first time here, going against Mussina, I was a little jumpy."
Four hours later, Hiljus was figuratively jumping for joy. The right-hander handcuffed the Yankees on four hits over five innings while striking out nine in Oakland's 4-1 victory.
"I guess on paper, me against Mussina at this park probably looks like a mismatch," Hiljus said. "But I'm not gonna back down from anybody. I like to get after it, and tonight I had it going."
He's had it going for much of his big-league career. Since getting called up from Triple-A Sacramento last year and making his first start at Texas on June 30, he's been on the losing end of a decision only once. His record was 5-0 last year, and his win Wednesday bumped his 2002 record to 3-1.
The No. 5 starter in a rotation that features a front end of Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito, Hiljus has the best winning percentage in the season's first four weeks. Only Hudson (3-2) has as many wins.
"He's picked up where he left off last year," said manager Art Howe. "I was proud of him tonight. He pitched a heck of a game against a pretty tough customer."
Hiljus wanted to go deeper into the game, but Howe lifted him after Derek Jeter's leadoff double in the sixth. Hiljus had thrown 94 pitches, but the look on his face as he walked off the mound with Jason Giambi in the on-deck circle said pretty clearly that he'd have liked the chance to throw a few more.
"Yeah, I didn't want to come out, but that's just me being me," Hiljus admitted. "I'm a battler, and I wanted to battle Giambi."
Alas, Howe had made up his mind before Hiljus took the hill for the sixth, and when Hiljus heard that, he was fine with the decision.
"If he's have just been reacting to Jeter's hit, then I'd have been a little bummed," Hiljus explained. "But he had already decided that I was going to stay out there until they got a baserunner, so that's cool.
"And the more I thought about it, the more I knew he made the right call. The Yankees made me battle tonight, and for the amount of innings I had thrown, I'd thrown a lot of pitches."
Said Howe, "We had the bullpen fresh, and I wasn't going to let Giambi do something crazy and get them back in it. ... Erik did his job."
The Yankees sounded glad to see Hiljus go.
"He worked his fastball in and out, hit his spots when he had to," said Shane Spencer, one of only three right-handed hitters in New York's starting lineup. "When a pitcher has his control, they can get you. We didn't hit many balls hard tonight."
Added manager Joe Torre: "We don't get good whacks at him."
Nor did the ghosts of Monument Park. Hiljus said they were haunting him a bit before the game, but those nerves were a non-factor thereafter.
"Oh, they went away once I was on the mound," he said. "If you're nervous on the mound, I don't care where you are. You're gonna get lit up. Once I'm on the mound, it's strictly business, bro. Strictly business."