The Doctor Is In
McJames Wins 20th As Knights Joust Sheriffs
Sept. 9, 2009
SAN ANTONIO -- For someone who said he wasn't at his best, Knights ace Doc McJames sure was plenty good.
McJames improved to 20-4, scattering nine hits in a complete game shutout victory of the San Antonio Sheriffs to snap a three-game losing streak and lower his league-leading ERA to 1.84 in the process.
"My breaking stuff was good today, but I left a few fastballs up in the zone," McJames said afterward. "Fortunately, they burned me for singles instead of homers."
Sheriffs starter Joe McGinnity (13-12, 3.25) was strong, allowing only five hits over 8 innings, the big blast a 2-run pinch-hit homer by Topsy Hartsel that extended a 1-0 Knights lead to 3-0. New Orleans had scored its only run prior to that in the sixth, when third baseman Lave Cross drove in catcher Jack Rowe on a groundout.
New Orleans was hitless until the fourth, and a Sam Thompson single was their only hit until Rowe's single in the sixth. Two of McGinnity's five walks on the day would push Rowe to third, setting up the first run.
But the real story was McJames, who is 10-2 in his last 12 starts with a 1.57 ERA.
"He is simply the best," said shortstop Ross Barnes, who was hitless to continue his mini-slump kicking off September, though he's still batting .325. "Doc takes the mound, we feel sure we'll win."
The victory trimmed the idle Memphis Strummers' lead back to 8 1/2. They kick off a two-game set against Arizona and ace Ben Sanders (15-8, 2.79) this evening. Playing each other's division rival, you can bet all four teams will be watching the scoreboard very carefully.