Shutout streak pitcher has his Las Vegas trip

Nick Christensen

Monday, Aug. 9, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

If all had gone according to plan for Brad Thompson, he'd have pitched this week at Cashman Field. But he'll take just having been there.

Thompson, a Cimarron-Memorial High graduate and Memphis Redbirds pitcher, entered the national spotlight earlier this season when he pitched 57 consecutive scoreless innings at Double-A Tennessee, a minor league record and two innings shy of Orel Hersheiser's overall record of 59.

The streak, along with Thompson's 11-game ERA of 1.76, earned the 22-year-old a promotion to Triple-A Memphis, where his ERA went up and his strength went down.

He made three starts with the Redbirds, logging a 5.52 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. After a June 24 game at Colorado Springs when he gave up seven runs, Thompson was placed on the disabled list.

Thompson said an internal impingement, caused by pitching more frequently than ever before in his career, was causing pain in his throwing arm. Conveniently, he started the throwing part of his rehabilitation program just in time to make the trip home to Las Vegas with the Redbirds.

"I was excited ever since I was called up to Memphis," he said. "Now, being here, it's rough. I'm glad I got to go on this trip."

The streak attracted national attention to the Knoxville, Tenn., suburb of Kodak, home of the Double-A Smokies, as Thompson kept racking up scoreless innings against opponents. Opponents managed 22 hits against him, while Thompson threw five walks and 29 strikeouts.

The law of averages caught up to him in his first start after the streak ended, when he gave up seven runs on nine hits to Carolina.

"The first one was a reality check, knowing I can get crushed like that," he said. "Through the whole streak I said that I'm leaving the ball up, and I can get hit."

In his next two starts, Thompson recovered, earning a promotion to Triple-A Memphis and a spot in the Redbirds' starting rotation.

But despite the injury, the streak, and the fast-track up, Thompson said he's not changing his game much.

"My game's not different," he said. "I got a little exposure through that; my name's out there a little bit, but it's the same game plan -- sinkers and sliders."

Thompson acknowledged that playing in Triple-A brings out a different style of play on the other end of his pitch.

"There's a lot more power; it's a cat-and-mouse game," he said. "You can't pitch the same sequence every time you face them; there are some really experienced hitters."

Thompson said he hopes to return for at least one start before the season ends early next month, then pitch in the winter instructional leagues to continue his rehabilitation before returning to Triple-A to start the season.