Ronick pitches Defenders into Finals

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Ronick pitches Defenders into Finals
09/13/2009 6:07 PM ET
By Josh Jackson / Special to MLB.com

The way Ari Ronick sees it, his promotion to the Eastern League came at just the right time.
Ronick pitched 5 1/3 strong innings in his first Double-A start Sunday as the Connecticut Defenders advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series with a 2-0 blanking of the New Britain Rock Cats.
"We were working really hard to get into the playoffs in Augusta and [the GreenJackets' elimination] was sad," Ronick said. "I'm excited to be here and have the chance to pitch in a big-game situation."
The 23-year-old left-hander yielded only two hits and two walks while striking out three. Having arrived in Connecticut before the Defenders' first playoff game, Ronick was told he'd probably get a start if the series lasted long enough.
"I found out I'd most likely start Game 4 when I came into the clubhouse my first day here," he said. "This was a just great opportunity."
The former 12th-round pick seized his chance. After a leadoff walk and a sacrifice in the sixth, manager Steve Decker brought in right-hander Mitch Lively to face Ramon Santana.
"You never like to get taken out of a game," Ronick admitted, "but this is the playoffs and they're going to go with situational pitching.
"I'm just happy I got this chance. [Defenders catcher] Jackson [Williams] called a great game. I was able to change speeds and work like it was any other game, and I was glad it turned out how it did."
Ronick (1-0) went 7-6 with Augusta during the regular season and ranked second in the South Atlantic League with a 2.65 ERA. He made his professional debut in 2008, going 4-1 with a 4.05 ERA for Salem-Keizer of the short-season Northwest League.
Ronick said his success with the GreenJackets never made him question when the Giants might promote him.
"I know they have a plan for me and there are a lot of great pitchers in Augusta," he said. "They have what's best in mind, so I trust in whatever they think is the right thing."
Connecticut easily won the first two games of the Northern Division Finals, outscoring New Britain 16-9. But the Rock Cats avoided the sweep Saturday with a 6-1 triumph.
The Defenders totaled 11 hits Sunday but hit into two double plays and stranded 13 runners. Ronick and the bullpen made the lead stand, however, with Joe Paterson pitching three one-hit innings for his first postseason save.
Brett Pill and Williams collected Connecticut's RBIs, while Brock Bond and Bobby Felmy each had two hits and a run scored.
New Britain's Whit Robbins singled twice off Ronick and Brian Dinkelman -- who homered twice in Game 3 -- led off the seventh with a base hit before being erased on a double play.
Reliever Spencer Steedley (0-1) retired two batters and was charged with a run on three hits for the Rock Cats.
The Defenders face the Akron Aeros in the best-of-5 Championship Series, beginning Tuesday. Akron took four of six regular-season meetings, but Ronick and his teammates are only looking ahead.
"The goal is to win [the championship]," he said. "These guys have worked hard all year. I'd do anything to help out them get a ring."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.