Blasters Molina Named Pitcher of the Week
July 27, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
DURHAM, NC- The official statistician of the American Association, Pointstreak, has announced that Joplin Blasters RHP Nestor Molina has been named this week's Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 26.
Molina becomes the first Blaster to win a weekly award since Joplin joined the league for the 2015 season. He tossed 14 shutout innings across two starts this week, picking up a win and striking out 12 hitters while only walking one.
The Venezuelan's first start of the week came on Tuesday, when he blanked the Laredo Lemurs over eight innings. Molina scattered four hits and struck out seven, and did not walk a batter. Unfortunately, the effort went for naught as he took a no-decision in a 1-0 Blasters loss. He bounced back to earn a win on Sunday, though, working six innings in a 5-0 win over the Grand Prairie AirHogs. Molina allowed five hits and one walk, and racked up five strikeouts.
On the season, Molina is now 6-3 with a 2.25 ERA over 13 starts. He has struck out 58 in 83.2 innings while only walking 15. This is his first season in the independent ranks after six seasons in affiliated ball in the United States. Molina spent three years with the Toronto Blue Jays' system before moving over to the Chicago White Sox, where he played primarily with Class AA Birmingham in the Southern League from 2012-2014. He appeared in one AAA game in 2012, but never returned to that level.
The Blasters are now 33-26, 2.5 games out of first place in the American Association's South Division. They open a home series with the Laredo Lemurs on Wednesday, July 29 at 7:05 p.m. Central time at Joe Becker Stadium.
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