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Barnes, Bundy Face-Off Tuesday in Delmarva

Highly touted hurlers have yet to allow a run in 25 combined innings
April 23, 2012
Combined they have yet to allow a run of any kind in 25 innings pitched, they have struckout 40 batters, while only walking three, and are limiting opposing hitters to a .074 average. On Tuesday, 2011 1st Round Draft Picks Matt Barnes and Dylan Bundy will take the mound in Delmarva for the Drive and Shorebirds, respectively.

While their statistics are very similar as both hurlers, both Barnes and Bundy have taken separate roads as they each embark on their first season in professional baseball.

After a standout three-year career with the University of Connecticut Huskies, in which he won the Big East's pitching triple crown and Pitcher of the Year in 2011, Barnes was the 16th overall selection by the Red Sox.

Making his professional debut on April 8th, the 6-foot-4-inch right-hander sparkled in 5.0 innings against the Lakewood BlueClaws. He allowed two hits and a walk, while striking out nine in picking up the victory.

In two additional starts since, it's been more of the same from Barnes, who stands 2-0 on the season, scattering four hits and walking none to go along with 16 strikeouts in 11.0 innings combined against the West Virginia Power and Lexington Legends.

His first two starts were more than good enough to earn Barnes the South Atlantic League's Pitcher of the Week honors for the April 5-15 to begin the season.

Taken 12 spots before Barnes at 4th overall in last year's draft, the Baltimore Orioles have proceeded very cautiously with the 19-year-old Bundy to begin the season.

While also making three starts on the bump, Bundy has been on a strict inning/pitch count, tossing just 9.0 innings over those three starts - however, they've been nothing short of spectacular.

Bundy retired the first 26 batters he faced as a profesional, before issuing a two-out walk to Billy Burns of the Hagerstown Suns on April 17th. In his three short outings, that has been the only baserunner Bundy has allowed, while striking out 15.

One thing is for sure, when these two meet on Tuesday at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, MD, there maybe no better pitching match-up in Minor League Baseball all season.