Posted 12:43 am Wednesday, May 02, 2012
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East Texans Set To Square Off On Mound
By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor
Sports Editor
The game may be on the south side of Chicago tonight, but it will definitely have an East Texas flavor on the mound.
East Texas pitchers Josh Tomlin of the Cleveland Indians and Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox will face off. The game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Field.
Tyler baseball historian Brent Horton said an East Texas mound matchup has happened three times in the major leagues since 1920.
"This will mark only the fourth time since 1920 that opposing starting pitchers in a major league game were both either born or raised in East Texas," Horton said. "However, Wednesday night's Humber-Tomlin matchup is the first time both pitchers had a connection to the immediate Tyler area. I am glad the Rangers are playing a day game in Toronto, because Wednesday's Indians at White Sox game deserves full attention from East Texas baseball fans."
Tomlin, who was born in Tyler and is a graduate of Whitehouse High School, is 1-2 on the season for the Indians with a 5.48 ERA. He has started three games and in 21 1-3 innings of work has struck out 15 and walked only three.
Tomlin also attended Angelina College and Texas Tech.
Humber, who of recent perfect game fame, was born in Nacogdoches, played for Carthage High School and is a current resident of Tyler.
The former Rice University standout is 1-1 on the season with a 4.66 ERA. He has started three games. In 19 1-3 innings of work he has 21 strikeouts and six walks.
On April 21, Humber pitched just the 21st perfect game in major league history against the Seattle Mariners, a 4-0 victory.
Both Tomlin and Humber are close friends and work out during the offseason at Bobby Stroupe's Accelerate Performance Enhancement Center.
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The previous East Texas matchups include:
Aug. 18, 1934 (Game 2 of DH)
Jack Russell (Paris), Washington Senators
vs. Harry Kinzy (Hallsville), Chicago White Sox
at Griffith Stadium, Washington
Senators 4, White Sox 1
Winning Pitcher:
Russell
Losing Pitcher:
Kinzy
(both pitchers went the distance)
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July 29, 1972 (Game 2 of DH)
Luke Walker (DeKalb), Pittsburgh Pirates
vs. Darrell Brandon (Nacogdoches), Philadelphia Phillies
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
Pirates 3, Phillies 2
Winning Pitcher:
Walker (7 innings)
Losing Pitcher:
Brandon (7 2-3 innings)
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April 8, 1973
Burt Hooton (Greenville), Chicago Cubs
vs. Ernie McAnally (Pittsburg), Montreal Expos
at Wrigley Field, Chicago
Expos 5, Cubs 3
Winning Pitcher:
McAnally (complete game)
Losing Pitcher:
Hooton (knocked out of the game after giving up 5 runs in 1 2-3 innings).
