Blue Jays' pitching Biebs makes franchise debut in Triple-A Buffalo
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In the backdrop was Shane Bieber's rehab outing at Sahlen Field in Buffalo where the former Cy Young Award winner and the big club's major trade deadline acquisition.
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Bieber has made four starts in the minors as he continues to move up the ladder following Tommy John surgery, each as a member the Cleveland Guardians.
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His fifth start came against the Syracuse Mets in Bieber's first with the Blue Jays.
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In his previous four, the right-hander pitched a combined 11.1 innings, while posting an ERA of 1.59.
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Given his pedigree and potential impact on the big-league club, the anticipation and interest in Bieber's Sunday start was predictably high.
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If all goes well in the coming weeks, it is easy to envision a Jays' rotation with Bieber as its ace.
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Sunday began with Bieber recording two swinging strikeouts in succession on six consecutive strikes before Prince George's Jared Young singled into centre field.
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Of the 13 pitches tossed by Bieber in the first inning, 12 were strikes.
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In the second, Bieber issued an eight-pitch leadoff walk, a balk and single before yielding a two-out RBI single.
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The inning ended when Bieber picked off a runner at first base in a 17-pitch frame that clearly was not as effective as the first inning.
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In the third, Bieber gave up a two-run homer with two outs, the second longball he has surrendered in Bieber's past two starts.
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Bieber had a three-up, three-down fourth inning, his first 1-2-3 inning on the afternoon.
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He worked around a leadoff single in the fifth to record three outs in a row, the first on a strikeout.
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And that was it for Bieber, who went 5.0 innings, would give up five hits, while striking out six.
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Of Bieber's 62 pitches, 47 were strikes.
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