The Twins’ Nick Blackburn is expected to take his regular turn in the starting pitching rotation tonight despite being struck in the face by a line drive on Sunday. Blackburn, who at 26 became a major league starter for the first time this year, doesn’t discourage easily.
The Twins Web site reported earlier in the week that swelling on Blackburn’s face had been reduced and headaches subsided from the ball hit by New York’s Bobby Abreu. Blackburn is second on the team in wins with a 4-3 record and his 3.32 ERA is best among starters.
On a rebuilt starting pitching staff the right-handed Blackburn has been a major contributor. Late last season he made it to the big leagues for the first time, pitching in six games as a reliever. His stats included 19 hits in 11.2 innings, with a 0-2 record and a 7.71 ERA.
The difference since last year? “I am just using all my pitches now,” Blackburn told Sports Headliners. “I am finally starting to pitch instead of just going up there and trying to throw fast balls to get all outs. I am using breaking balls and changeups and stuff, and finally just actually learning what a pitcher really is.”
Blackburn wants to be more consistent the rest of the season in keeping the ball down to hitters, below the knees. “That’s been the biggest challenge for me,” he said. “I think it’s probably a challenge for all pitchers. I’ve got the confidence I think that it takes to pitch up here. I think I am starting to realize I can compete up here and get guys out. It’s just going to be the every day consistency of going out there and doing what I have to do and making the pitches I have to make.”
Umpires can vary in defining a strike zone but Blackburn, who is not a strikeout pitcher and gets ground ball outs from batters, said he won’t let the way a game is called bother him. “I am not ever going to let an umpire take me out of a game because his zone is tight or whatever,” Blackburn said. “So…I just come after the hitters and I try to put it in the strike zone so they can hit and put it in play and get ground balls. That’s my biggest thought going into the game.”