PITTSBURGH — In his last four appearances, right-hand pitcher Chris Leroux has been dominant, retiring each of the last 17 batters he has faced.
“Leroux has really picked it up,” Bucs Manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s been so efficient with his good hard sink. He’s spinning that slider very effectively. He’s been able to pitch to both the left-handers and right-handers very, very well. Just quick good work.”
Not since giving up three earned runs on four hits without retiring a batter, Leroux has sharpened up on the mound.
“I think he just had real good short term memory,“ Hurdle said. “I think he just let it go. I think that might have been the best part of it.”
Two of the biggest changes in Leroux’s success this season has come from throwing a new pitch –a slurve that he threw back in college– as well as a three-quarters arm slot.
Leroux has been scored upon in just two of his 14 games with the Pirates this season while holding opposing hitters to a .211 batting average.
In 18.2 innings with the Pirates, Leroux has posted a 1.92 ERA. The 27-year-old has walked just three batters while striking out 20.
Photo credit: Yahoo! Sports
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