June 9, 2010: Today's Starting Pitchers

GAME ONE:

RHP NICK BUCCI: Selected by Milwaukee in the 18th round of the 2008 draft out of St. Patrick High School in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

LAST SEASON: Bucci went 6-3 with a 4.31ERA in 13 games (12 starts) for the Helena Brewers in 2009.

LAST START: Bucci had his three game winning streak snapped when he took a loss at Fort Wayne on June 2. Bucci allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits over 6-2/3 innings. Bucci walked three and struck out seven. He held a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, but let in one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. The Rattlers lost 4-3.

THAT’S A STREAK: Bucci had a 15-1/3 inning scoreless streak end in the first inning against Burlington on May 23.

DOUBLING UP: Before moving to Helena for the 2009 Pioneer League season, Bucci made three relief appearances for Huntsville, the AA Southern League affiliate of the Brewers. In three games with the Stars, Bucci went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. However, two of those appearances for Huntsville were scoreless.

O, CANADA! Bucci pitched for Team Canada in the 2009 World Cup of baseball and helped them to the bronze medal in the competition. It was Canada’s first medal in the World Cup.

LEAGUE AWARD: The Pioneer League recognized Bucci as their pitcher of the week on July 20 for his performance for the week of July 13-19.

ORGANIZATION AWARD: The Brewers named Bucci their minor league pitcher of the month for July, 2009. Bucci went 5-0 with a 2.13ERA during July last season.

RATED: Baseball America rated Bucci as the #29 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewer organization in their 2010 Prospect Handbook. He was also ranked as the #17 prospect in the Pioneer League by BA after the 2009 season.

MWL ALL-STAR: Bucci has been named to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game in Fort Wayne on June 22.

VS. BOWLING GREEN: Bucci is facing the Hot Rods for the first time in his career. This is also his first ever appearance against an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 7.1 - (8/22/09 @ Orem)
STRIKEOUTS: 9 (2x - Last: 7/15/09 @ Idaho Falls)

..............2010 DAY-BY-DAY
DATE..OPP...W/L/S..IP..H..R..ER.BB.K..ERA
4/9+..KC*..........3.0 1..2..0..5..5..0.00
4/14..@BUR.........4.0 1..1..0..0..5..0.00
4/19..@QC*.........4.1 4..1..1..5..2..0.79
4/24..BEL..........2.0 2..3..3..1..1..2.70
5/1+..@BEL*.Loss...4.1 3..3..2..4..1..3.06
5/6...QC...........3.0 1..0..0..0..2..2.61
5/13..BEL*..Win....6.0 3..0..0..3..7..2.03
5/18..PEO*..Win....6.0 1..0..0..3..3..1.65
5/23..BUR*..Win....7.0 7..2..1..2..6..1.82
5/28..@CR*.........5.2 6..1..0..4..4..1.59
6/2...@FW*..Loss...6.1 7..3..2..3..7..1.74

+-Game Two of a doubleheader
*-Start

GAME TWO:

RHP MAVERICK LASKER: Selected by Milwaukee in the 5th round of the 2008 draft out of Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

LAST SEASON: Lasker went 5-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 13 games (one start) for the Arizona League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a late season addition to the Timber Rattlers roster and Lasker went 1-1 in a pair of Midwest League starts.

LAST START: Lasker was the winning pitcher at Fort Wayne on June 3. He allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits over 5-2/3 innings pitched. Lasker walked three and struck out five in a 6-4 Wisconsin victory.

PRO CAREER DELAYED: Lasker did not pitch professionally in 2008. He was placed on the disabled list of the Arizona League affiliate of the Brewers in July and was not activated until September.

WHERE EAGLES DARE: Lasker’s team made it to the Arizona State Baseball Championship Game for Class 4A-I.

SAYING NO TO SAN DIEGO: Lasker turned down a scholarship offer to play college baseball at San Diego State University.

PRO DEBUT: Lasker made his first appearance as a professional as a reliever for the Arizona League Brewers on June 27, 2009 against the Angels. He pitched two innings, allowed two runs on two hits, walked two and struck out one in his relief appearance.

MAULING THE COUGARS: Lasker made his Midwest League debut on August 31 at Kane County. He pitched seven scoreless innings and picked up the win. Lasker allowed four hits, walked two, and struck out three.

RANKING: Baseball America lists Lasker as the #30 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

VS.BOWLING GREEN: Lasker has never faced the Hot Rods. Today is also the first time he is facing an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 7.0 (2x; Last: 8/31/09 @Kane County)
STRIKEOUTS: 10 (8/11/09 @AZL Athletics)

..............2010 DAY-BY-DAY
DATE..OPP....W/L/S..IP..H..R..ER..BB..K..ERA
4/13..CLN*..........5.0 3..1.. 1.. 2..5..1.80
4/18..@QC*...Loss...5.0 7..4.. 3.. 0..3..3.60
4/23..BEL*...Loss...4.0 6..6.. 6.. 3..3..6.43
5/1^..@BEL..........2.0 1..0.. 0.. 0..0..5.63
5/5...QC*...........4.2 2..2.. 2.. 6..6..5.23
5/11+ @QC*...Win....5.0 2..2...2...4..6..4.91
5/16..BEL....Win....2.0 2..0...0...0..1..4.55
5/22..BUR...........2.0 1..0...0...0..2..4.25
5/29..@CR*...Loss...5.0 6..4...4...1..1..4.67
6/3...@FW....Win....5.2 5..3...1...3..5..4.24

^-Game one of a doubleheader
+-Game two of a doubleheader
*-Start