Numbers Game Gets Best of Irvine

Kirk Irvine said he got caught up in a numbers game in the White Sox organization, which is why he is playing for the Vigilantes this season in the Western Baseball League.

If Irvine’s performance Sunday in a 5-1 loss to Chico at Saddleback College was any indication, he may have taken his first step back toward a major league organization.

Irvine (0-1) pitched six innings and gave up two runs, one earned. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three.

“All I want to do is be consistent,” said Irvine, 23, who played at Cal State Fullerton. “I feel I have to prove myself, just like everyone else.

“It’s independent ball, but it’s good competition. The ultimate goal is to get out of here. Everyone wants to move on.”

Irvine was helped by some solid defense. Right fielder Dwain Bostic and second baseman Robert Muro made running catches to help Irvine shut down the Heat.

Irvine showed a lot of poise early.

A double and wild pitch put Terrel Hansen at third base with none out, but Irvine got two pop-ups to second base and a liner to third baseman Manny Gagliano.

Irvine was less successful in the fifth inning. He gave up a hit. A one-out error by first baseman Alan Burke enabled Brian Wisler to score. Consecutive singles then enabled Carlos Perez to score.

“It was a great first outing,” Manager Buck Rodgers said of Irvine. “He was very business-like. Basically, he pitched super. I’d take a performance like that every night.”

Irvine left the game trailing, 2-1. It was the second consecutive night the Vigilantes got six innings out of their starter. Mike Smith left with Saturday’s game with the score, 5-5.

The offense struggled against Chico left-hander Scott Navarro, whose changeup and slider kept the Vigilantes off-balance for 5 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits, two walks and struck out three. He left with Brian Grebek on second base, but Tim McDonnell popped up the first pitch from reliever Hank Sprinkle to end the threat.

The only run Navarro gave up was Willie Mosher’s home run to left field leading off the fifth inning. Mosher, who hit seven home runs last season, cut the Vigilantes’ deficit to one run.

For the second consecutive night, the bullpen foundered. John Homan (three walks, three hits, two runs) and Kurt Kishita (one hit) gave up runs. Homan pitched 1 2/3 innings and gave up Ken Shamburg’s second homer in two games. Kishita pitched 1 1/3 innings, and gave up a leadoff triple to Quentin Harley, who scored on a grounder to second base.

“I think we’ll have a lot of close games for seven or eight innings,” Rodgers said. “Our bullpen will get better. I think it will be one of the strongest parts of our club.”

The Vigilante had a chance to score in the eighth. Tracey Edmondson singled and Grebek walked, but Gagliano hit into a double play and Burke struck out.