The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1123063
JUNE/JULY 2019 THE WOLVERINE 47 BY AUSTIN FOX L os Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill has not finished a season with an ERA north of 3.66 since 2013 and is well on his way to keeping that streak intact once again this year. The 39-year-old lefty, now in his third full season with the Dodgers, has been outstanding in five 2019 starts, compiling a 2.67 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) in 27 innings. Hill has not al- lowed more than three earned runs in a single start, and has limited his op- ponents to one earned run or fewer in three of the five outings, despite a 1-1 overall record through May 27. The former Wolverine doesn't yet have enough innings to qualify (he missed the first month of the season with injury) in the National League ERA race, but if he did his 2.67 ERA would be good for fourth best on the Senior Circuit. It is also the second-best mark among the five starting hurlers on the National League's best pitching team (3.51 club ERA as of May 27), trailing only Hyun- Jin Ryu's miniscule 1.65 ERA. The Boston native's best start of the season came May 17 in Cincinnati, when he threw six shutout innings, allowed just two hits and struck out 10 batters en route to a 6-0 LA victory. Hill joined Dazzy Vance (1915-35) as the only Dodger pitchers aged 39 or above to ever strike out 10 or more batters in a game. "I think I played with him my first year," the veteran joked after the vic- tory. "We really just went back to the drawing board and stuck with fast- balls and breaking balls. Getting the fastballs down and throwing every- thing else downhill really opened up the top of the zone." "Richie had it going tonight," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts chimed in after the impressive per- formance. "He was spinning it the right way at the top of the zone, and the breaking ball had that north- south depth he likes. He was in com- plete control tonight." FORMER WOLVERINES ON MLB ROSTERS Through May 27 • Rich Hill (Played at U-M from 2000-02), SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: Only made five starts due to a knee strain that delayed the start of his sea- son, but has compiled a 1-1 record and a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings … Also owns a 31-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. • Ryan LaMarre (2008-11), OF, At- lanta Braves: Has spent the entire season in the minors so far, hitting .288 with four home runs, 21 RBI and a .355 on-base percentage in 43 games for Triple-A Gwinnett … Leads his team in stolen bases (five) and triples (four), and is tied for fifth in RBI … Could be in line for an eventual call- up if he stays hot on offense. • Zach Putnam (2006-08), RP, Boston Red Sox: Recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in March and has yet to pitch in 2019. • Clayton Richard (2005), SP, To- ronto Blue Jays: Did not make his first appearance of the season until May 23, due to a stress reaction in his right knee suffered in March … Only gave up two hits and one earned run over four innings against the Red Sox in his lone start. The NHL STEVEN KAMPFER SHINES IN POSTSEASON Boston Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer only scored three goals during the entire regular season, but made arguably the biggest play of his career in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals against Carolina May 9. Less than two minutes into the con- test, the Bruin fired in a shot to give his squad a 1-0 lead in what would be an eventual 5-2 victory. The play was Kampfer's first-ever goal in the postseason in what was actually only his second career playoff contest. Kampfer and the Bruins are now in the Stanley Cup Finals, where they won the first game over St. Louis. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NHL PLAYOFFS Through May 27 • Andrew Cogliano (Played at U-M from 2006-07), LW, Dallas Stars: Com- peted in all 13 postseason contests, fin- ishing minus-1 with two goals … Dal- las fell to St. Louis 4-3 in round two. MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Rich Hill Dominating Yet Again, Even At Age 39 Through his first five starts of the season, Hill was 1-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 27 innings. PHOTO BY JON SOOHOO/LOS ANGELES DODGERS