By Gary Lloyd
PINSON — Former Pinson Valley pitcher Joe Burns was named the Pitcher of the Week for Round 10 of the Australian Baseball League.
Burns, a pitcher for the Melbourne Aces, flirted with a perfect game over the weekend against the Perth Heat.
The Texas Rangers prospect and ABL first-overall draft selection picked up the win Friday night after throwing eight innings in which he struck out six batters and allowed just two hits, one earned run and no walks. Burns had a perfect game going into the seventh inning until Tucker Nathans reached base on an error and kept his no-hitter into the eighth inning before Brandon Tripp’s leadoff home run. Burns was still able to get out of the inning and pick up the win. On the year, the southpaw is 5-1 with 2.55 earned run average. His five wins are tied for best in the league.
Burns is a 2008 Pinson Valley High School graduate. He played collegiately at Samford University. Burns spent much of 2012 in the Class A Short-Season Northwest League with the Spokane Indians in Washington. He had a 1-1 record and a 2.25 ERA. He struck out 24 batters in 32 innings and totaled two saves.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.