Phillies prospect Rupp makes big-league debut

ANDREW CASHNER is the latest in a long line of Texas kids blessed with the god-gifted ability to throw a baseball really, really hard.

Nolan Ryan came in the 1970s, Roger Clemens in the '80s. Kerry Wood followed in the '90s, Clayton Kershaw in the '00s.

Only four pitchers have been armed with a faster fastball than San Diego's Cashner in 2013: Matt Harvey, Stephen Strasburg, Jose Fernandez and Wily Peralta.

A Phillies lineup featuring five guys who have played a considerable amount of time in Triple A in the last two seasons was no match for Cashner's heavy artillery last night.

Cashner retired the first 11 batters he faced and held the Phils to two hits in his first seven innings of an eventual 8-2 win.

"Cashner was tough," said Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg, who managed Cashner at Double A when both were with the Cubs' organization. "He was pretty impressive."

Another Texas born-and-bred ballplayer likely had a more memorable night than Cashner. A week after joining the Phillies, catcher Cameron Rupp made his first big-league appearance and major league start.

He also got his first hit.

With two outs in the eighth, and the game's outcome all but decided, Rupp ripped a ball down the third-base line and trucked his way down the first-base line. The burly backstop beat Chase Headley's throw to first base, and barrel-rolled over the bag.

When he got to his feet and saw the safe signal, Rupp clapped his hands with pure, unadulterated joy.

"It was about mid-roll when I saw him [signal] safe, and I was like, 'Yes!' " Rupp said. "It was exactly the way I drew it up. I couldn't be more excited. It's a dream come true to be out there playing for a major league baseball team."

The 24-year-old Rupp, a third-round pick in 2010, has quickly ascended up what had been a crowded crop of catchers in the Phillies' minor league system this year. With Tommy Joseph battling a concussion injury and Sebastian Valle's prospect status fading, Rupp, who spent last season at Class A Clearwater, worked his way up to Triple A Lehigh Valley this summer.

When he found out he was getting his first call to the big leagues last week, Rupp told his family and they also arrived in Philly. But his dad flew back to Dallas on Sunday and his mom was scheduled to leave on Monday morning.

Following Sunday's game, however, Sandberg told Rupp he'd be starting last night. Kathi Rupp wasn't sure if she should change her flight.

"It's going to be expensive," she told her son.

"Mom," Rupp responded, "I'm going to make my first start and not have anybody here after the game to say anything to."

And so Kathi Rupp stayed and his father, Kevin, flew back from Dallas with his brother and sister, too.

"They are flying out at 6:30 [Wednesday] morning," Rupp said, clearly not eager for that wakeup call. "They can take a cab to the airport."

Rupp had family waiting for him and a souvenir in his locker stall: his first major league hit ball already had his name inscribed on it. But the more impressive memento Rupp got from his first big-league game may have come from the guy squatting behind him all night.

Home plate umpire Mark Wegner saddled over to Sandberg during a pitching change in the ninth inning and complimented the rookie catcher.

"[Wegner] said that was some of the best visibility he's seen all year and the best framing of pitches he's seen," Sandberg said. "That was pretty cool. I noticed with his posture, he gets a little bit rounded. I could see where an umpire can see the ball well coming in. He gave him a good compliment right there. That's impressive."

"Huge compliment," Rupp said when the message was relayed. "That makes you feel good."

Rupp struck out in each of his first two at-bats against Cashner as the Padres put the Phils away early. San Diego scored seven times off starter Tyler Cloyd and had an 8-0 lead after five innings.

But as with most September games with a team out of the race, it was difficult not to have one eye on 2014. In addition to Rupp's debut, big-armed Georgian Ethan Martin made his first appearance out of the bullpen.

Martin, who had a 6.90 ERA in seven starts but showed promise in early innings in those starts, retired all three batters he faced in the sixth inning. Facing the top of San Diego's lineup, Martin threw all 10 of his pitches for strikes, struck out a batter and didn't allow a ball to leave the infield.

"If that's something he can do out of the bullpen in his first attempt, that's very good," Sandberg said.

Cody Asche ended Cashner's shutout bid with a one-out home run in the fifth inning. Since starting his big-league career 1-for-17, Asche is hitting .305 with 12 extra-base hits, including five home runs, in his last 27 games.

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese