Hayes gets belated birthday present

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Hayes gets belated birthday present
08/10/2008 6:53 PM ET
By Steve Conley / Special to MLB.com

An unexpected hiatus in the bullpen was all it took for Tyree Hayes to turn his season around.
Two days after his 20th birthday, the right-hander tossed a four-hitter for his first complete game of the season Sunday as the Hudson Valley Renegades blanked the Lowell Spinners, 4-0, at LeLacheur Park.
Hayes (3-4) retired the side in order five times, did not issue a walk and tied a career high with six strikeouts. He won his second straight start and lowered his ERA to 3.06.
"The biggest thing was being able to throw all my pitches for strikes," said Hayes, the son of former Major Leaguer Charlie Hayes. "Strike one is the most important pitch. I was able to get ahead in the count for the most part and that helped me put the batters in a hole."
Hayes had not pitched more than six innings in any of his seven previous starts and was 0-3 with a 6.89 ERA after his first four starts. He made three relief appearances from July 9-18 due to some shoulder issues before returning to the rotation.
"After my fourth start, I felt some tightness in my shoulder, so I worked out of the bullpen to gain some arm strength," he said. "I worked on my mechanics -- staying tall in my delivery and getting on top of the ball. I actually had a lot more confidence and felt more comfortable once I got back to starting."
In four outing since returning to a starting role, Hayes has allowed only three earned runs over 25 2/3 innings, striking out 18 and walking four. The shutout was the second of his three-year professional career.
"It's one of the best games I've pitched in pro ball," said Hayes, who pitched a seven-inning shutout for Rookie-level Princeton on Aug. 4, 2006. "One thing I need to keep up is getting strike one and pitching to contact and let the defense work. It's still a work in progress, but I'm feeling good."
An eighth-round pick in 2006, Hayes went 4-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 13 Appalachian League starts last season.
Kyeong Kang provided most of the support for Hayes, slugging a two-run homer and an RBI double. Jacob Jefferies went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Renegades (28-24), who have won three of their last four games.
Lowell starter Hunter Strickland (4-3) allowed three runs on four hits while striking out four over five innings.
Luis Sumoza's double was the only extra-base hit for the Spinners (26-24), who were coming off an emotional 12-inning victory over the Renegades at Fenway Park.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.