House up next
Published 6:59 am Thursday, July 10, 2014
Picayune’s T.J. House made history over the weekend. The 24-year-old southpaw hopes to begin adding to his legacy tonight.
House goes for his second straight win in the Major Leagues, as his Cleveland Indians host the New York Yankees at Progressive Field.
House is making his eighth start this season for The Tribe, and is coming off his first ever big league win earning the decision in a 7-3 victory over Kansas City Saturday.
The effort saw House (1-2, 4.24 ERA) throw 64 of his 87 pitches for strikes while walking none, and gave him his third quality start in seven outings this season. He allowed just one run through the first five frames before surrendering lone runs to Kansas City on a sixth-inning RBI groundout and a seventh-inning blast by Danny Valencia.
“They got some balls through the holes. Just a bunch of singles,” House said. “But definitely battled through it. [The offense] came in, got me some runs, and I held it down for them.”
Tonight, House will face the legendary Yankees for the first time in his career while New York is expected to counter with RHP David Phelps (3-4, 4.01). It is the finale of a four game series, and the seventh straight home game for the Indians.
Indians manager Terry Francona said House sometimes throws too many strikes. The hurler agreed with that sentiment. He allowed no walks in Saturday’s win. He has just nine walks against 25 strikeouts.
“I have to aggressively attack the zone, mix it up and get them out in less pitches,” House said. “If I throw 20 pitches in the first two at-bats and there’s a runner on second in the sixth the odds are he is going to take me out.
“I do feel sometimes I go in the strike zone a little too much, I have to learn to expand a little bit more, especially later in the at-bats. That comes with learning up here. I’m definitely learning with experience.”
Francona agreed with his young starter.
“Every game he’s pitched he’s given us a chance. That’s not an easy thing to do,” Francona said. “He shows he can compete and get hitters down. He worked ahead well and used the breaking ball.”
House is hoping getting that first win will start a streak. “I wasn’t getting too nervous (about when that first win was going to come). My job is to go out there and give the team a chance at a win,” House said. “It came at the right time at home and in front of the fans.”
This is expected to be House’s last start before the All-Star break.