State Press: Leake stars in unlikely role for ASU in sweep

Published in The State Press on Monday, April 28, 2008Sophomore Mike Leake has said all along: If the decision was his to make, he would prefer to pitch Friday nights and hit the remainder of the weekend. ASU baseball coach Pat Murphy has shied away from giving his best pitcher consistent playing time in the field, largely because the value of a healthy Leake on the mound.But with the team's top hitter junior Ike Davis battling injuries, Leake's hypothetical became reality as the No. 4 Sun Devils (35-7, 10-5 Pac-10) swept visiting Cal this weekend."This was a weekend where, without Ike, we needed someone to step up and be the superstar," Murphy said. "Mike was certainly one of them."ASU is now tied with No. 16 Stanford atop the Pac-10 standings while No. 15 Cal (27-13-2, 7-8 Pac-10) drops into the conference's crowd middle.Leake was riding a stationary bike before Saturday's game, content with his complete game win on the mound the previous night and figuring he could relax. Then Murphy "shocked" Leake by starting him at first base and batting seventh."It's always nice to have the feeling that you are contributing to the team," Leake said. "I finally got my chance."Leake also started in Davis' place Sunday and played a role in ASU's 10-run second inning that removed any doubt from the series finale, which ASU won 18-2 in front of a crowd of 2,569. The game concluded after just 6 1/2 innings and three hours and 22 minutes of baseball as Cal coach David Esquer called for the game to be shortened.Aiming for the sweep of Cal on Sunday, ASU senior lefty Josh Satow (5-2) allowed two quick runs in the first frame, throwing 34 pitches.But ASU's offense put Satow at ease, giving its starter plenty of run support. The Cal defense helped out, too, with three errors and a wild pitch each leading to a run. Five Golden Bear pitchers walked 16 Sun Devils throughout.And Leake was right in the thick of it. He scored twice in the second inning as ASU sent 16 batters to the plate, needing just three hits to post the crooked number. ASU last scored 10 or more runs in an inning in February 2007.Satow came out for the third frame, threw just nine pitches and retired Cal in order. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs.Junior Petey Paramore provided insurance, hitting a 2-0 pitch in the bottom of the inning over the right field fence for a two-run home run, his fourth of the season. The Sun Devils batted around again in the fifth to score five additional runs. Junior Brett Wallace and senior Ryan Sontag each had 3-hit games.Davis incurred a rib injury Friday, exiting the game early and not playing Saturday and Sunday. He is also still recovering from a hamstring pull, which cost him playing time last weekend."It can keep you out a long time," Murphy said of Davis' most recent mishap. "I don't know the extent of it."Davis' absence is especially costly because he doubles as the team's closer. Junior reliever Stephen Sauer was also unavailable with soreness in his throwing arm, further limiting the Sun Devils' pitching depth.Saturday, Leake provided the eventual game-winning hit as ASU went on to win 11-7.Leake tripled down the first base line to drive in three runs and break a 7-7 tie in the fifth inning. He slid into third base, not out of necessity, but purely to get dirty."I'm glad they gave me the confidence to hit," Leake said. "It turned out for the best."Friday, ASU's pitching depth was offered a night of recuperation, as Leake (7-1) pitched his second complete game this season, despite not having the flare of his usual repertoire."I wasn't myself the first few innings," Leake said. "[Then], I was able to lock in a little better and hold them."Leake allowed seven runs, five earned, and walked four but the offense scored 11 runs to back him up. The victory made Leake the ninth Sun Devil all-time to win 20 or more games during his first two seasons.Source