Sports
St. Charles Native Impressive in Major-League Debut
Jacob Turner allows just three hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings in his major-league debut for the Detroit Tigers.
St. Charles native Jacob Turner made his major-league pitching debut for the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Turner turned in a solid outing as he allowed just three hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three in the Tigers' 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Turner, who is a graduate, was called up early on Saturday to make an emergency start due to Tigers injuries and an overused Detroit bullpen. He will likely be sent down to Triple-A Toledo rather than remain on Detroit’s major-league roster.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland indicated that Turner may spend the rest of the 2011 season in the minors.
The 20-year-old more than held his own on Saturday. He struck out the side in the second inning and held the Angels scoreless until the fifth.
Turner compiled a 3-5 mark with a 3.48 ERA in 17 starts at Double-A Erie this season.
The ninth overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, Turner had a 20-4 mark in his high school career, along with 187 strikeouts. While at Westminster, Turner’s pitching coach was ex-St. Louis Cardinals standout pitcher Todd Worrell.