Asheville's Chacin not giving hitters leeway

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Asheville's Chacin not giving hitters leeway
04/08/2008 10:46 PM ET
By Alan Friedman

It's not even close to Christmas season, but opposing hitters just might be thinking of Asheville pitcher Jhoulys Chacin as a Grinch.
In his second start of the season Tuesday, the 20-year-old right-hander from Venezuela fired five perfect frames, fanning nine, as the Tourists three-hit the host Kannapolis Intimidators, 2-0.
Chacin (1-0) has yet to surrender a run this season. He allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings in his season-opening start April 3 against Lexington, a 5-4 victory in which he didn't get a decision.
"He has an overpowering fastball and a good change and had excellent command of both pitches," Tourists manager Joe Mikulik said. "He threw 91 pitches and his 89th touched 94 mph. Pretty impressive."
Against Kannapolis, he retired the first 17 hitters he faced before Greg Paiml lined a single to center field with two outs in the sixth inning. He allowed singles in the eighth to Paiml and Joe Persichina before Craig Baker struck out two in a perfect ninth for his first save.
Chacin, who was 6-5 with a 3.13 ERA for Casper in the Rookie Pioneer League last year, has amassed 13 strikeouts for the season.
"He's very coachable and mature beyond his age," Mikulik said. "It's a pleasure to watch him pitch. He's got a great future."
The Tourists (5-1) snapped a scoreless tie in the sixth when Brian Rike scored on a wild pitch. They added another in the eighth on Rike's home run to right.
Charles Shirek (0-1) allowed one unearned run on five hits, fanning four without a walk in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss for Kannapolis (2-4).
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.