NewsPoreda earns first win for White Sox
Left-hander strikes out two in scoreless 13th inning
By Jesse Temple / MLB.com
06/25/09 8:33 PM ET
CHICAGO -- There was some concern within the White Sox organization that when Aaron Poreda received his big league callup from Double-A Birmingham, he might not throw strikes.
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He had been brought up through the system as a starting pitcher, but now the White Sox were throwing him into the bullpen in an effort to bring him along slowly. And the bullpen can be a different animal.
No set pitching schedule. Lots of waiting. Fewer innings pitched to make adjustments in games.
Poreda is making all those thoughts seem sillier by the outing.
On Thursday, Poreda waited more than four hours before tossing one inning of scoreless relief to pick up his first Major League win in the White Sox 6-5 victory against the Dodgers in 13 innings at U.S. Cellular Field.
He struck out Mark Loretta and Andre Ethier swinging, before inducing a flyout to center from A.J. Ellis to end the 13th inning.
"He's been throwing strikes," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "That's the only thing we were worried about. He's been striking guys out. He threw a good slider to Loretta for a strikeout today. He's been ahead in the count. His ball moves, and if he's able to throw it over the plate, he's got a chance to be pretty good."
Since making his Major League debut on June 12, Poreda has yet to allow a run in four appearances. During that span, he has thrown 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits while striking out six and walking one.
The big picture question now is this: If Poreda continues to perform at this level, will he crack the White Sox starting rotation?
Poreda can't answer that question and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said it was too soon to think about such an answer.
For now, Poreda is just enjoying his time in the Majors and making a conscious effort to throw first-pitch strikes when he is called upon.
"We have a great starting rotation right now," Poreda said. "My responsibility is the bullpen, so I'm trying to fulfill that. You have to start with non-clutch situations and all of a sudden you get into a game like today, trying to prove yourself, and you step up from there.
"I would love to be a starter. But right now I'm just trying to fulfill my role."
Poreda was taken by the White Sox with the 25th pick in the first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. During his Minor League career, the 22-year-old lefty appeared in 50 games with 46 starts. And he did not come out of the bullpen in either 2008 or 2009, when he made 38 starts, although he did work in relief during 2008 Arizona Fall League action.
His first Major League victory didn't come as a starter, but Poreda enjoyed it all the same.
"It feels great," Poreda said. "Our team played great out there today. I was just trying to give them a chance to win. I got a couple of strikeouts and felt really good today. It's awesome to get my first win."
Poreda said he realized he had a chance for his first win once the White Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 13th inning. He then watched as his team recorded two outs, bringing Scott Podsednik to the plate.
"I actually moved from the back dugout bench to the front dugout bench because I wanted to see it," Poreda said. "All of a sudden, we got a line drive right at someone, so I was like, 'I better sit back down and compose myself and get ready for the outing.'
"We had two outs and I was getting ready, but [Paul] Konerko said, 'We are going to get it done for you.' He was believing and all of a sudden Podsednik got the great hit, I got my first win and it was incredible."
For his efforts, Poreda received the lineup card, the game ball and the traditional beer shower, courtesy of starting pitchers Mark Buehrle and John Danks.
"That's his first [win] in the big leagues?" Guillen asked after Thursday's game. "There's a lot more to come. When this kid comes out of the bullpen and is throwing strikes with cockiness, he'll be used a little more out of the bullpen now."
Jesse Temple is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
