Pirates Draftee Strikes Out 18 Straight Batters in Perfect Game

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 17, 2009 2:58 PM EDT

Just a high school game, but still. Pirates 26th-rounder Matt Dermody struck out every hitter who game to the plate in a six-inning perfect game:

Dermody, a senior recently drafted in the 26th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, pulled off the feat Monday night against South Tama High. The 6-foot-5 lefthander could have done more damage, but by then Norwalk was ahead 10-0.

In Iowa, games are called if a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after five innings.

Iowa High School Athletic Association spokesman Bud Legg says Dermody's effort is the first recorded instance of an Iowa pitcher striking out every batter he faced.

In other draft and minor league news, Rudy Owens allowed just one hit in eight innings for West Virginia yesterday:

The 6-foot-3, 224-pound left-hander surrendered just one hit in firing eight shutout innings as the West Virginia Power snapped a four-game losing skid against the Kannapolis Intimidators with a 6-0 victory Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park. A paid crowd of 3,573 attended the South Atlantic League matchup.

Owens, a 28th-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the June 2006 draft, exited to chants of "Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!'' upon recording the final out of the eighth...

Owens set down 24 of 25 batters, including 16 straight at one point, but had his no-hitter broken up in the sixth.

The Pirates also signed five draft picks: outfielders Jose Hernandez (23rd round) and Pat Irvine (33rd), shortstop Ty Summerlin (30th) and pitchers Jason Erickson (24th) and Marc Baca (42nd).

Finally, Pedro Alvarez hit two homers in the second game of a doubleheader yesterday, although he went 0-for-3 in the first game.

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Comments

Wow

Sign that guy. Hopefully he won’t go all Justin “I just won the CWS” Wilson on us though.

by Dignan on Jun 17, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

In Wilson’s defense, he was a hard luck loser last night in the first game of Lynchburg’s doubleheader, 1-0. But yeah, he hasn’t really pitched all that well for the entire season. Last night was a glimmer of hope, though.

by mspirate on Jun 17, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I was mainly referring to his increased demands last year after pitching a good game in the college world series, as if one game could be worth that much.

by Dignan on Jun 17, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Wilson signed for slot

by dirtyfrank on Jun 17, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

Yes, but it took a while

Wilson thought the CWS overcame his mediocre college stats and wanted more money.

NH said no. Slot is it and he signed. But it took a while is that I think Dignan is referred to.

by Bernie6666 on Jun 17, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

I think he actually ended up taking...

…slightly less than slot, by $5k or so.

by Vlad on Jun 17, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

What is slot

for a 5th rounder?

by God Loves on Jun 17, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Think it was about $200k last year.

by Vlad on Jun 17, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

The Iowa kid...

says he won’t decide till the end of the summer whether to go to Iowa or the Pirates. Since Iowa HS play baseball during the summer…sounds like he’ll go real close to August 17th before making a decision. Unless the Pirates open their pocket books…real wide.

by Thunder on Jun 17, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

Pedro

Is it safe to say that Pedro will get promoted to AA Altoona at some point this summer? I ask because I live close and would love to get to see him in person.

by biglar33 on Jun 17, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

I would be surprised...

…unless he starts making more contact.

by Vlad on Jun 17, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know that I'd be too surprised.

In situations where pitchers are forced to pitch to him, he’s crushing the ball. He’s chasing a lot, but discipline always comes with age. If nothing else, he’ll turn into Adam Dunn. I wouldn’t object to that.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jun 17, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

so if he makes more contact he will go straight to AAA???

by biglar33 on Jun 17, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

I got ya. sorry I misread that.

by biglar33 on Jun 17, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

OMG!!!

DEJAN Y DO THE PIRATES KEEP BRINGING BACK JOSE HERNANDEZ? R U KIDDING ME???

(C’mon, at least one person had to have sent that to the PG Q&A? Please?)

by Dan H on Jun 17, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

I was thinking about it....

But I thought most of the idiots over at the PBC Blog wouldn’t be that stupid…

by IAPiratesFan on Jun 17, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

“Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”

H. L. Mencken

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 17, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

If Rudy Owens is 6' 3 and 224

then recent Pirate history tells us he throws in the high 80s. Okay, that’s not completely fair to maholm and duke (who’s lost weight), but it would have been generous for Mark Redman.

Please, someone who’s seen him or knows, tell me that Owens can bring the heat.

by mocasdad on Jun 17, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions

i read in an article on him written last year that his fast ball sits at 90 and tops out at 93, while he throws a nice knuckle curveball. I haven’t been able to find an article written about him this year so maybe he had increased his velocity since then

by samvescovi on Jun 18, 2009 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions