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New league, no problem for Roach
Padres prospect has not allowed an earned run at Double-A
07/08/2012 1:44 AM ET
Donn Roach is 11-1 with a 1.67 ERA at three stops this year.
Donn Roach is 11-1 with a 1.67 ERA at three stops this year. (Mike Andruski/High Desert Mavericks)
Generally speaking, players want to impress right away when their organization makes the decision to promote them. Donn Roach has had no trouble taking care of that.

The Padres prospect yielded three hits over five innings Saturday, sending Double-A San Antonio on the way to a 7-0 blanking of Tulsa.

Roach struck out two and did not walk a batter in his third appearance with the Missions and has not allowed an earned run in 14 innings since moving up from Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore.

"I mean, I'm just trying to do the same thing I was doing in [the California League]," he said. "I want to get ground balls, let the defense do its work, and so far, that's working. Those guys are picking me up."

San Diego's No. 19 prospect has had a busy season, going from Class A Advanced Inland Empire after six starts to Lake Elsinore when he was included in the trade that sent Ernesto Frieri to the Angels. After eight appearances with the Storm, Roach was promoted to the Texas League.

Even though his uniform hasn't remained constant this season, his success on the mound has. With the 66ers, he went 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA, 29 strikeouts and three walks over 41 2/3 innings. With the Storm, he was 5-1 with a 1.74 ERA over 46 2/3 frames.

Overall, the 22-year-old right-hander is 11-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 17 games, including 15 starts.

"I've tried to just make sure everything I do on the field is consistent," said Roach, a third-round pick in last year's Draft. "Getting traded, getting promoted, I don't let it affect what I do on the field or how I go about my business."

Roach also said he was thrilled to find out he'd be advancing a level and wanted to maintain his focus as he faced more advanced hitters.

"There's a lot of older guys here compared to [Class A Advanced]. They're a little stronger, you have to focus through the whole lineup," he said. "[Getting the callup] was awesome, it came right before the All-Star Game. They brought me into the office and said, 'You're going up after the All-Star Game.' Called my dad, my fiancée, my mom. It was a cool experience."

Last season with Class A Cedar Rapids, Roach posted a 3.45 ERA over 70 1/3 innings with 68 strikeouts and 20 walks. That, combined with his early performance with Inland Empire, attracted the Padres' interest when they dealt Frieri to Anaheim for the University of Arizona product and infielder Alexi Amarista.

Cody Decker and Jason Hagerty both homered in support support of Roach. Nate Freiman added a pair of RBIs.

Jonathan Raymond is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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