Hokie ClubThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim staved off elimination from the American League Division Series on Sunday night with the help of former Virginia Tech pitcher Joe Saunders, who left the mound in the fifth inning with the game tied 4-4. The Angels eventually defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-4 in 12 innings to extend the series to a game 4. Saunders threw 95 pitches in his 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out two.
Saunders, who earlier this season became the third former Hokie to be selected to the MLB all-star game, pitched for Virginia Tech from 2000-02 before being drafted 12th overall by the Angels after his junior season.
During his three seasons at Tech, Saunders compiled a 27-7 overall record and a 3.43 earned run average. He registered 255 strikeouts and 115 walks in 315 career innings pitched. Both his strikeout and innings pitched totals rank fourth all-time at Tech.
This season, his first full campaign in the Angels’ rotation, Saunders went 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA in 31 starts. He struck out 103 batters in 198 innings pitched, while walking 53.
Saunders became the third former Tech pitcher, and fifth Hokie overall, to appear in a major league postseason game. He did, however, become the first to start on the mound, as Mike Williams (Astros, 2001) and Brad Clontz (Braves, 1995 and 1996) both pitched in relief. Franklin Stubbs (Dodgers, 1988) and Johnny Oates (Phillies, 1976; Dodgers, 1977 and 1978) were the two position players to appear in playoff games.