Former Thundering Herd pitcher Dan Straily left a lasting impression in the minds of the Oakland A’s coaching staff tossing 6 2/3 innings allowing five hits and striking out a career high 11 in an 8-3 win over Houston Friday night.
Following the game the rookie right-hander got the news he had been expecting. He was sent back to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Bartolo Colon who is coming off a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test.
“It was something I’ve thought about,” Straily said to reporters after getting the news of his demotion. “I kept trying not to, but I can do basic math, there’s six of us for five spots. I’m the least experienced and youngest guy, so I just take it in stride.”
It likely won’t be the last time this season Straily makes an appearance with the big league club. Last season, Straily started the 2012 season having never pitched above Single-A, but rocketed through the Oakland farm system and made seven starts with the big league club with Manager Bob Melvin was impressed with Straily’s effort against the Astros.
“That might have been the best we’ve seen him pitch,” Melvin said to reporters. “A strong performance for a guy that obviously we just sent down and had that weighing on his mind going out to pitch, too. So that was doubly impressive to give us that kind of outing.”
Straily will head back to Sacramento for now to wait for his next chance to take the hill in a Major League stadium.