Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.
FORT WAYNE – The Padres are watching the number of innings their minor league pitchers have thrown.
That led the TinCaps to shuffle their rotation.
Matt Jackson made the most of his first start of the season, throwing five shutout innings in a 6-1 victory over South Bend in front of a sellout crowd of 7,682 Thursday at Parkview Field.
Jackson gave up three hits. He struck out one and walked one.
“(Catcher Griffin Benedict) called a good game. He set the hitters up well. I went with his routine,” Jackson said. “I didn’t shake any pitches off and just trusted my stuff and tried to throw as many strikes as I could.”
Nick Greenwood (91 1/3 innings pitched), Jerry Sullivan (89) and Mike Watt (100 2/3 ) are among the Fort Wayne pitchers who had their innings cut in recent weeks.
Watt was the scheduled starter Thursday but was pushed to the bullpen because of his limited action.
“I need the innings. I’m ready to go,” Jackson said. “I’m healthy now. Some of these guys are going to need some innings, so it’s going to help me out a lot.”
Jackson’s first seven appearances for the TinCaps (18-14, 54-48 overall) were out of the bullpen. He had a 1-1 record with a 4.29 ERA.
A 31st-round pick in the 2009 draft out of South Alabama, the right-hander made 11 starts in 18 appearances last year for San Diego’s rookie league team in Eugene, Ore.
He started this season at extended spring training as he recovered from tendinitis in his right elbow before making the move to Eugene. He joined the TinCaps on June 29. This was his first start since Sept. 5, 2009.
“He gave us a big boost,” TinCaps manager Jose Flores said. “It’s going to take a lot of those types of guys to come in and help us out.”
Watt entered in the sixth, striking out two of the three Silver Hawks (12-19, 42-57) he faced.
Offensively, Danny Payne scored three runs. Nate Freiman, Jeudy Valdez, Jason Hagerty and Jedd Gyorko each had two hits, and Freiman had two RBI.
Note: Right-handed pitcher Jason Adams was placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 22 with a back injury. Right-handed pitcher Jackson Quezada was added from the Arizona League Padres. … Outfielder Rico Noel was transferred to Eugene.
