Sun Devil starters shine in 3-0 start
Granted the opponent is Xavier, coming off a 15-38 season, but for Arizona State to open its season with three victories by starting pitchers is an important step for a mostly untested staff.
Junior Seth Martinez worked seven strong innings Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Phoenix Muni, a 2-1 win, then sophomore Eli Lingos, making his first start, pitched into the sixth in the nightcap, an 8-2 decision.
They followed up Hever Bueno, who pitched 51/3 innings of a 5-2 win Friday. Combined, the starters allowed 14 hits (8 by Lingos) and three earned runs in17 2/3 innings.
Only Martinez was a starter last season, and he struggled to make it past the fifth inning so going seven was an important psychological hurdle.
Having his velocity back up to 88-90 miles-perhour “makes a big difference,” Martinez said.
“Last year I was in that hit-able range and this makes it more a little more challenging on the other team. That’s helped, and it showed today. I’ll hopefully be more durable. The fifth inning came around and I gave up that run, but they weren’t really hitting the ball that hard in that inning.”
Lingos, a left-hander on a staff with plenty of righthanders, gave up a solo homer to Joe Gellenbeck, Xavier’s leadoff hitter in the second, and another single run in the fifth but left with a 5-2 lead that Arizona State added onto with three sixth-inning runs.
“It meant a lot to get a start,” said Lingos, one of the first players to sign last year under new coach Tracy Smith.
“Having a big lead, it does kind of help you calm down and relax. You start pulling ahead, it gives you a little more confidence.”
Grant Schneider pitched two scoreless innings behind Martinez for a save in Game 1.
Four pitchers followed Lingos in Game 2 including freshmen Connor Higgins and Fitz Stadler for an inning each.
“We made some pitching changes we wouldn’t normally do (in Game 2), but our whole plan is to see as many guys as we can this weekend,” Smith said. “To do that and still win a doubleheader, I’m pretty happy. We have some base running things we need to clean up, but there were a lot of positives out there too.
“Lingos was really solid and earned the start (during practices). Fitz has got a chance. He’s an imposing figure (at 6-8) and if he’s down in the zone and 90plus (mph), he’s got a chance to give us some quality innings.”
Redshirt freshman Reagan Todd will start at noon Sunday in the series finale with Tucker Baca also expected to pitch.
Andrew Shaps was 4 of 7 on Saturday with 2 RBIs and made an important diving catch in center field in the opening game.
“We’re still trying to create an identity of this team,” Smith said.
“I couldn’t tell what (Shaps’) stats were until I looked at the sheet, but I do know he made an impression on me and the entire ballpark in how he played and hustled. That goes a long way setting the tone for how we want our team to be perceived.”
Shaps only had six atbats as a freshman and made seven relief appearances pitching.
“Credit him,” Smith said.
“He’s put in a lot of hard work and focus on what he really wants to do. If you were to ask me in the summer is Andrew Shaps going to be your center fielder, I didn’t really think that. He’s played himself into it. We look forward to getting him back on the mound because he’s going to have a big role in that capacity, too.”
In Game 1, Arizona State made single runs in the fourth and fifth stand up for the win with David Greer involved in both.