James

Parr

Parr actually held his own with Atlanta, striking out 12 in 14 innings. He got knocked around a little on Thursday against Colorado, but he’s worth keeping an eye on. He’s had good peripherals at every level, and is young enough to make a return soon.

Parr is needed to fill the roster spot that opened when Jorge Campillo was placed on the DL. Parr was 1-0 with a 4.84 ERA in five September starts for the Braves last year.

Parr left with a 4-0 lead, a lead which Atlanta’s dreadful bullpen was able to promptly give away. The Braves ended up winning, but the real story is that Parr has now pitched 12 innings of shutout ball in two starts since making his debut last week. His five strikeouts tonight give him an 8/3 K/BB ratio. He’ll face the Phillies next.

“We might not pitch him,” manager Bobby Cox said. “It feels like it’s a rib; it’s bothering him.” Rookie James Parr will probably handle his rotation spot for the final 2 1/2 weeks.

Morton will have an X-ray this weekend. “It doesn’t keep me from throwing a ball,” he said. “It just keeps me from throwing a ball without pain.” James Parr, who started Thursday in place of Jo-Jo Reyes, will fill the open spot in the rotation.

An impressive debut for the 22-year-old, even if the Nats aren’t a particularly tough assignment. Parr allowed just two hits while striking out three and walking three. Gregor Blanco and Brian McCann each chipped in an RBI in the victory.

Parr was up to 14 scoreless innings as a major leaguer before Chase Utley and Jayson Werth got to him for three in the third tonight. One more followed in the fourth, and Parr was lucky there was no further damage in the fifth. He was removed with two on and one out, but Buddy Carlyle got out of the jam.

Parr will be making his MLB debut after going 13-7 with a 3.52 ERA and 125/51 K/BB ratio in 150 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He’s been a starter throughout his five-season pro career, but the 22-year-old will likely work in middle relief for now.

The Braves scored three runs in the first and six in the second, but Parr still wasn’t able to stay in long enough to get a win. He went 1-0 with a 4.84 ERA in his five starts for Atlanta. He should be a long shot to claim a rotation spot next spring.

Parr did a decent job in five September starts and had a perfect ERA in 6 1/3 innings this spring, but he simply wasn’t a candidate to crack the roster after all of Atlanta’s additions. Marek allowed three unearned runs in four innings this spring.