Miracle hurler impresses early

Blackburn already receives FSL honor

Low-Class A Quad City manager Kevin Boles pulled Nick Blackburn into his office, smiled and gave him the good news. The 22-year-old pitcher was being promoted to high-Class A Fort Myers.

Blackburn smiled back but he wasn't overjoyed.

"I was nervous," he said. "I didn't know how I would do up there."

The answer: not too bad. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in his first two starts with the Miracle, earning him Florida State League Pitcher of the Week honors for the period of July 26 to Aug. 1. Only one other Miracle pitcher has received that recognition this year.

Blackburn struggled in his third Fort Myers start Thursday at the Lee County Sports Complex. He allowed four runs in five innings against the Clearwater Threshers before the game was stopped in the sixth inning because of rain.

The contest, which is tied at 4, will be continued at 5:05 p.m. today. The Threshers and Miracle will play a seven-inning game afterward.

"He's been doing a good job of making hitters swing at his pitches. That's the reason why he's doing well," Miracle pitching coach Eric Rasmussen said.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Blackburn isn't a power pitcher, a Randy Johnson clone who routinely throws the ball past hitters. He's more like Greg Maddux, a pitcher who prides himself on three things: location, location and location.

Blackburn, a 29th round selection in the 2001 draft, was 6-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 20 outings at Quad City before his promotion.

"Up until tonight, I've been spotting my pitches," Blackburn said. "Anybody who can spot their pitches will have success. I think that's the most important part of pitching."

Blackburn didn't do a good job of spotting some of his pitches Thursday. Clearwater left fielder Tim Gradoville clubbed a high changeup for a solo home run in the second inning. Right fielder Ryan Barthelemy pulled an inside fastball for a three-run homer in the fourth.

"Two pretty big mistakes," Blackburn said.

Blackburn hasn't made a lot of mistakes since he joined the Miracle. Rasmussen and Fort Myers manager Jose Marzan hope Blackburn can help replace left-handed starter Francisco Liriano, who was promoted to Double-A New Britain on Tuesday.

"He's been doing a nice job for us," Rasmussen said. "He's been keeping the ball down and getting ground balls. That's the key for him. Hopefully, he keeps it up."