StatisticsLast Season
Set the American League record for saves by a rookie with 31 to surpass the 24 by Gregg Olson in 1989 with Baltimore...Was 0-5 with an ERA of 3.39...Along with the club rookie save record appeared in 56 games, which ranks fifth among Blue Jays rookies...Named the Topps Major League Rookie Right-handed Pitcher of the Year...Opened the season with Syracuse of the International League (AAA) and was 3-0 in five starts with a 3.86 ERA...Contract was purchased from Syracuse on May 5...Made his ML debut on May 5, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and retiring the first six Oakland A's he faced - only other career relief came in the 1998 International League Playoffs on September 11 (1.1 IP)...In his second appearance earned his first save with 2.0 hitless innings for Pat Hentgen...Converted his first four save opportunities...In 11 games in June was 0-0 with six saves and an ERA of 0.61 (2 ER/14.2 IP)...Captured the AL Rolaids Relief Award in July after setting a club record for saves in a month with 11...First Blue Jay winner since Duane Ward in August 1993... Had saves in ten consecutive appearances from July 18-Aug. 8 to tie the club record set by Duane Ward (1991) and Darren Hall (1994)...Converted 14 straight save opportunities from July 18-Sept. 12...Had a stretch of 20 straight games that were save opportunities and converted 18...At the All-Star break was 0-0 with 14 saves and a 1.34 ERA...In the second half was 0-5 with 17 saves and a 5.70 ERA...Posted saves on three consecutive days, July 21-23...Retired 36 of 56 first batters faced and stranded five of 12 inherited runners....Opponents hit .235 (55-235), left-hand hitters posted a .209 mark and right-handers a .261 average...Saved 31 wins: Hentgen 7, Frascatore 4, Hamilton 4, Carpenter 3, Escobar 3, Halladay 3, Quantrill 3, Wells 2, Lloyd 1 and Spoljaric 1.
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