Angels’ Davis Daniel will get chance to build on impressive 1st start
ANAHEIM — Angels right-hander Davis Daniel will indeed get another start next week following his gem Thursday night when he went eight scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers.
Manager Ron Washington declined to commit to another start following Daniel’s electric season debut Thursday and first career major league start. But Washington confirmed the obvious Friday with another outing to come, possibly during next week’s series at Oakland.
The last time a pitcher went eight or more scoreless innings with at least eight strikeouts in his first major league start was in 2001 when the Colorado Rockies’ Jason Jennings pulled off the feat.
Since 1901, Daniel is just one of four pitchers with eight or more scoreless innings, eight or more strikeouts and no walks in a first career major league start. The last to do it was the San Francisco Giants’ Ron Herbel in 1964.
“It really hasn’t sunk in completely,” said Daniel, who made his major league debut last season with three relief appearances. “I mean, I did what I wanted to do and I felt really good doing it. But as far as the historical factor, I don’t know if that’s quite set in but it’s been cool to see.”
Daniel said he was unable to answer at least 100 congratulatory texts before he went to sleep following Thursday’s game. By Friday morning, he said he had another 100 messages of praise waiting for him.
Key to the successful outing was a bevy of changeups that kept the Tigers off balance all night as Daniel never reached more than 93 mph with his fastball.
“I think we threw 20, 25 of them last night, which is more than I have ever thrown,” Daniel said of his changeup. “So throwing that with confidence in the big leagues, that pitch can only get better after gaining some confidence at this level.”
The dominating outing came after Daniel held a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts at Triple-A Salt Lake, but there were enough signs that he had been pitching better than that mark.
“I think over the last month it’s been a lot better,” Daniel said of his execution on the mound. “Honestly, prior to this past month in Triple-A, I felt I was throwing the ball decent, just some tough breaks. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way and I feel it’s starting to turn around.”
LINEUP CHANGE
Washington intended to have Brandon Drury in the lineup Friday for the infielder’s first start in a week, but altered that plan in the afternoon.
Drury, who has been dealing with an upper respiratory illness, went through an on-field workout Thursday and was feeling fine into the evening before his health regressed Friday.
Washington said the illness has progressed to a number of players and coaches in the clubhouse, but that Drury has been hit hardest. He hasn’t played a game since June 18 and a stint on the injured list is possible.
PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE
Angels right-hander Griffin Canning saw his ERA drop a tick on Friday and he wasn’t even pitching.
Canning’s ERA fell from 4.72 to 4.62 because of a scoring change from his June 18 outing.
A misplay in foul territory by Joe Adell in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers allowed two runs to score, with Canning originally charged with one earned run on the play. After review, both of the runs were ruled unearned. In the process, Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio had an RBI taken away.
After a rough start to the season, Canning had a 9.88 ERA after three starts, but he has since delivered seven outings of two earned runs or less, including one Monday against the Oakland A’s when he went a season-best seven innings.
ALSO
In addition to Daniel getting another start next week, Washington said right-hander Jose Soriano (abdominal infection) is expected to come off the injured list and make a start against the A’s.
UP NEXT
Tigers (RHP Reese Olson, 2-8, 3.35 ERA) at Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 3-8, 4.62 ERA), Saturday, 7:07 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM