Atomic RoadRunners

Braves SP James Parr tossed six sharp innings and combined with three relievers for a five-hitter to beat the Nationals in his major-league debut Thursday. Parr surrendered just two hits — both to Ronnie Belliard — walked three and struck out three. The 22-year-old right-hander didn’t allow a runner past second base. “What a night he had,” Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s sneaky quick. He doesn’t light up the radar gun, but he’s got a little looping curve and a changeup. I was impressed. It’s a great way to break in.”

Parr, who was promoted on Tuesday, September 2nd, went 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA with Richmond, going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last three starts. “I didn’t want to change anything,” Parr said. “I just pitched the way I had been.” He threw 60 of his 101 pitches for strikes, and was never clocked at more than 88 mph. “I was a little nervous, just uncomfortable early,” he said. “It was very uncharacteristic of me to walk three guys (all in the first three innings). I struggled early, then turned it around later.” Parr might have impressed the Braves enough to get a second start, but he remains just a low-end NL-only option for now.

Parr pitched six more scoreless innings on September 9th, extending his scoreless streak to 12 innings since coming up from the minors and left with a 4-0 lead. The 22-year-old Parr was denied the win but did become the first Braves pitcher since Kyle Davies in 2005 to pitch 12 scoreless innings at the start of his career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. And he’s the first Atlanta hurler since Larry McWilliams in July 1978 to go at least six scoreless innings in each of his first two big-league starts. Parr has had some beginner’s luck, but remains just a low-end Fantasy SP. (CBS Sports)

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