MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kalani High grad Shane Komine of the Oakland A's got his first major league start yesterday.
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Komine impressive in MLB debut
The Kalani grad pitches six solid innings after giving up a leadoff homer
OAKLAND, Calif. » Both of Shane Komine's first two pitches as a major leaguer ended up as souvenirs.
After throwing a strike to Toronto's Reed Johnson to open yesterday's game, Komine got the ball as a memento of his debut with the Oakland A's.
The Kalani graduate's next offering also left the field, as Johnson launched the pitch over the left-field wall.
Not that Komine let the blast faze him.
"I was pretty much laughing about it as it cleared the fence," Komine said in a phone interview last night. "It was a second-pitch curveball to a guy who had never seen me before and he hit it out.
"He is a big leaguer and you just have to tip your cap to him. ... It kind of helped to get it out of the way and help me settle down."
Komine did just that, shutting out the Blue Jays over the remainder of an impressive six-inning outing and delivering exactly the kind of performance Oakland had hoped for from the 25-year-old right-hander from Honolulu in a dramatic 6-5 win.
Komine didn't factor into the decision in the game, which ended with Milton Bradley's three-run walkoff homer in the ninth.
The victory kept the A's in first place in the AL West, a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.
With about 50 family members and friends in the stands to support him, Komine threw 99 pitches, giving up four hits and four walks while striking out one. Johnson was the only Blue Jay to score against him.
"It was the most awesome feeling to get that first pitch over," Komine said. "It was a lot better feeling than the second pitch."
After turning the game over to the bullpen with Oakland leading 2-1, the A's relievers kept Komine from a victory over 13-game winner Roy Halladay. Huston Street (4-3), the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, picked up the win despite blowing his seventh save.
Komine won his last six starts for Triple-A Sacramento before being promoted and met up with Saint Louis grad Brandon League, now a member of the Blue Jays' staff, on Saturday.
Komine became the ninth pitcher to start a game for Oakland this season and the 38th player with Hawaii ties to play in the majors.
He registered his first strikeout in the third inning, getting Lyle Overbay swinging to end the frame.
"I got ahead of him and he chased a high fastball," Komine said. "It is something I will always remember."
The A's put Komine in position for the win by taking a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning.
Oakland scored its first two runs via fielder's choice, by Bobby Kielty and Bradley. Jason Kendall singled to left for an insurance run with two outs in the seventh to chase Halladay.
Street entered with two outs in the eighth after Toronto pinch hitter Eric Hinske's RBI single in the eighth off Kiko Calero made it 3-2.
Street allowed a leadoff single to Frank Catalanotto in the ninth and another single to Troy Glaus one out later before Overbay's go-ahead two-run double to deep center. Aaron Hill also doubled in a run to make it 5-3.
But Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan (1-1) couldn't hold it and blew his fourth save.
Mark Ellis hit a one-out single and went to second on indifference. Mark Kotsay walked following Kendall's flyout to left, bringing up Bradley.
Bradley sent a 2-1 pitch from Ryan over the center-field wall for his sixth homer to give him four RBIs. He was mobbed at home plate after rounding the bases.