Vincent Mazzaro pitches the biggest game of his life tonight when he faces the Oklahoma RedHawks at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League Championship Series.
The best-of-five series is tied at 1-1, so tonight's victor takes a commanding advantage. And if Mazzaro can give River Cats manager Todd Steverson a solid outing, the youngster will take a huge step toward showing the A's he can handle pressure situations.
It's been an impressive season for Mazzaro, who will turn 22 on Sept. 27.
In effect, it's been a bounce-back year after less-than-sterling 2007 at Class-A Stockton.
Mazzaro was 9-12 with a 5.33 ERA with the Ports last summer. He moved up to Double-A Midland this season and was 12-3 with a 1.90 ERA. With 104 strikeouts against just 36 walks, Mazzaro was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento in early August.
He has not appeared overwhelmed.
"He's a tough young kid," Steverson said when asked what he's learned about Mazzaro in little more than a month of working with him. "He persevered from the statistical struggles he had last year. He got things together at a higher level of ball and that says something."
Steverson said pure toughness would not get that accomplished.
"He's got very good stuff," the manager said. "His fastball is around 93-94 (miles per hour); his slider has bite to it; he's got a good sinker and a good changeup. He's got good tools and all the makings of a top prospect."
Steverson wouldn't tip his hand on potential lineup changes for the pivotal Game 3. However, the pattern, if the whimsical skipper has one, has been to get Casey Rogowski's left-handed bat into the lineup when possible. With the RedHawks throwing right-hander Tommy Hunter, Steverson likely will try to get as many left-handers into the mix as he can.
Steverson can control his lineup, but he'll have to wait like the rest of the area to see how Hurricane Ike affects things.
"We think we'll be able to get (tonight's) game in," he said, "but Saturday's game is the one that could be hard to play."
Call The Bee's Martin McNeal, (916) 326-5504.
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