Snell continues scoreless streak

Ian Snell after beating the Giants at AT & T Park last June.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Here are three names one doesn't often hear lumped together -- Pedro Martinez, Chris Carpenter and Ian Snell.

Maybe, we should get used to it.

Snell, a Pirates right-hander, put up five more scoreless innings yesterday in a 5-1 win against Philadelphia.

"He does what Pedro does," shortstop Jack Wilson said. "He throws his off-speed stuff on 2-0, 1-0 -- counts when the hitter expects a fastball. He has the confidence he can throw all four or five of his pitches -- however many he has -- for strikes at any time. Chris Carpenter. Pedro Martinez. That's what makes them so great."

Wilson helped extend Snell's scoreless streak to 11 consecutive innings with a spectacular play in the hole with the bases loaded to end the second inning.

Snell also had defensive help from right fielder Xavier Nady and left fielder Nate McLouth, each of whom threw out a runner at second base trying to stretch a single.

"My teammates played good defense," Snell said. "That was really big."

Snell has yielded only eight hits and three runs in 16 innings this spring.

"I'm a little bit smarter this year. I'm not throwing as many fastballs. I'm messing with the hitters. I'm throwing more off-speed stuff. I learned a lot last year. It's amazing what one year can do," he said.

"He's doing a great job mixing all this pitches," manager Jim Tracy said. "His fastball command is better. And his arm speed with all his pitches is devastating to the hitters.

"He's been really good all spring. By my count, he's thrown one bad pitch all spring. He's got a chance to be really, really good. It's like he's been on a mission since day one this spring. He's grown in all facets of the game -- and life -- in my opinion."