Twins' Robb spins two-hit shutout

He's a long way from home and even farther from the life most people probably guessed he would end up leading.

Hein Robb grew up in South Africa at a time when baseball was just starting to catch on. He was skilled at wielding a cricket bat and shined on the soccer field, but it was ultimately his love for America's national pastime that won the day.

On Wednesday, he checked off another milestone in his unlikely journey in professional baseball.

Robb allowed two singles en route to the first complete-game shutout of his five-year Minor League career as Rookie-level Elizabethton beat Johnson City, 3-0, at Joe O'Brien Field.

"I would say it went pretty good," said Robb, who threw a season-high 107 pitches. "This would probably be my best start. I had pretty good stuff and I threw a lot of strikes.

"Tonight, I was throwing my fastball quite a lot and I was keeping them off-balance. In different situations, I would throw a changeup or a curveball, but with two strikes it all depended on what the hitter was doing."

Robb (1-4) recorded a career-high nine strikeouts -- all swinging -- and did not issue a walk. He also induced 15 ground-ball outs and one fly ball each to left, center and right field in lowering his ERA to 2.87.

The 21-year-old left-hander surrendered a leadoff single to Ronnierd Garcia in the second inning and another base hit to Garcia with one out in the seventh. That was all the Cardinals could muster against Robb, who earned his first win since July 29, 2012.

"I have always wanted to [throw a shutout], so that makes it even more special because it's the first time I have done that playing pro ball," said Robb, who retired 17 of his final 18 batters. It was the second straight game he's not issued a free pass, the first time that's happened this year.

Robb's journey to the Appalachian League has been atypical.

He grew up in Brakpan, South Africa, about 20 miles east of Johannesburg. An active kid, Robb played cricket and served as his soccer team's goalkeeper. He was introduced to baseball at the age of 6 when his father began coaching, and he quickly discovered he could pitch and play first base as well as any of the other youngsters in the region.

"We had regional tournaments back home and [Major League] scouts would come to watch to see if there was any talent," Robb said. "Scouts saw me playing in Johannesburg for the Edenvale Giants. When they first saw me [in 2006], I was 14 years old.

"I just tried to stay levelheaded and not think about it and just carry on with my game. Baseball is growing a lot [in South Africa], it's a lot bigger than it was even four years ago."

Robb signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 2008 and made his pro debut as a reliever in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2010. It was his first time in the United States.

He moved into the rotation the following year and earned a promotion in 2012 to Elizabethton, where he went 2-4 with a 3.73 in 13 appearances.

Robb began this season with Class A Cedar Rapids, but after posting a 7.59 ERA in three Midwest League starts, he returned to the E-Twins to gain a little more experience.

"It was a new level for me and it was just about getting used to a better league," he said. "There was more competition. I don't think I need to change anything, just keep throwing strikes."

Facing the E-Twins for the first time since pitching six one-hit innings against them on July 26, Cardinals starter Dailyn Martinez (2-3) matched Robb until the fifth. Ryan Walker led off with an infield hit, stole second and raced home on Martinez's throwing error before Derek Rodriguez and Mitch Garver delivered RBI singles to cap the scoring.