NewsSavery wins 10th game for Reading
Southpaw gives up two hits in six-inning outing
By Josh Jackson / Special to MLB.com
06/29/09 6:27 PM ET
Phillies prospect Joe Savery's philosophy for his success this season has pretty simple."I try to have fun and just work on the stuff I do have control over," Savery said after becoming the first 10-game winner at the Double-A level this season.
Savery threw six shutout innings in Reading's 12-2 matinee rout of Trenton at Waterfront Park on Monday. He surrendered two hits and four walks, fanning two in the victory.
Savery's 10th win in as many decisions came three days after the left-hander surrendered a run on two hits in the first inning of a game that was rained out before he could pitch the second. He hasn't lost since April 16, when he gave up three runs in four innings during his second start of the season.
The 21-year-old wasn't too surprised at becoming the league's first 10-game winner, but he's had some help keeping track of the numbers throughout his undefeated streak.
"Guys have definitely reminded me of it," he said. "It's been a source of humor around here. Shaking hands with guys after the game, they'll say things like, 'So what are you, 35-1 now?' Stuff like that, so I always know the real number."
Savery, who was taken by Philadelphia with the 19th overall pick of the 2007 Draft, is in his first season in the Eastern League, but, judging by his record and his 3.08 ERA, he's developing quickly.
"It's a little bit of everything," he said of his strong start to the season. "You look for a pattern, but there's not an obvious one there. I look at the games I've won, and sometimes I've thrown well. Other games I've been up and down. And some games I haven't thrown well at all, and I just got a lot of run support."
When Reading is hitting like it was Monday, Savery relaxes on the mound more easily.
"It definitely locks you in. You can just worry about throwing strikes, instead of worrying about preventing runs from scoring," he said. "Things like the other team's running game ... you just don't really have to worry about it in those situations."
He credits his work with R-Phils pitching coach Steve Schrenk for his continued improvement. In the beginning of May, Schrenk helped Savery to add a two-seam fastball to his repertoire.
"It's made a big difference. Really, since then things have been going really well," he said. "It gave me another pitch and it helped me with my mechanics. I was having a little trouble before spotting my fastball on the arm-side of the plate."
Because he throws the pitch from the same arm angle as his four-seamer, the southpaw didn't need to build his confidence in the pitch in bullpen sessions before using it in games. "I took it into the game immediately. It's really helped."
Savery also has been able to rely on his team to get him out of trouble during the few times he's needed help, and he's worked hard to come through when his teammates needed him to pick up some slack.
"It's a good group of guys. Some of us have been around each other for awhile now. I think we have a great clubhouse. As individual as this game can be, the guys you play with can be really important."
"You can be aware of what's going on with your team and keep everybody interested in the game," he added. "You [as a pitcher] can focus on not keeping your guys out there on the field forever. If you help each other out as a team, you're going to have more fun."
Savery also realized he has little control over many aspects of the game, including how quickly he's promoted.
"I'm 10-1 now, but I could be here [in Double-A] all year, and that's the reality. I try to have fun and just work on the stuff I do have control over," he said. "I can control being a good teammate. I can control making sure I'm having fun out there."
Josh Jackson is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
