Saltdogs' Jeff Blitstein Earns Fourth Shutout

Lincoln Saltdogs pitcher Jeff Blitstein became the third pitcher in the minors to post his 4th shutout of the season Friday night, as Lincoln blanked the St. Paul Saints 8-0 in an American Association game.

Against St. Paul, Blistein allowed 8 hits, but kept the Saints off the scoreboard.

The Parker, Colo., native scattered eight hits while walking two and striking out three in improving his record to 7-1 on the season. A deeper look at the numbers indicates greater dominance. In posting his second-straight complete-game shutout, Blitstein induced 14 ground-ball outs and only six balls were hit out of the infield by Saints batters. Over the course of his last two starts, he has induced 32 ground ball outs in 18 innings and only 10 balls have been hit out of the infield, either safe hits or outs, by the 61 total batters that he’s faced. In addition, Blitstein has given up just three runs (two earned) in his last 36 innings of work and he has now pitched 22.1 consecutive scoreless innings.

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Blistein joins the Montogomery Biscuits (Devil Rays/ Southern League) pitcher Andy Sonnanstine and Tony Casoli of the Traverse City Beach Bums (Frontier League) as pitchers who have pitched 4 complete game shutouts in 2006.