Peacock serves notice with bounceback win in second Triple-A start

Syracuse Chiefs right-hander Brad Peacock could really feel the difference in his pitching from his Triple-A debut to his second start Friday. In his first chance at Triple-A, he allowed seven runs, including a three-run homer. But July 22, he came in with his fastball hitting the spots and rolled to a five-inning victory in which he allowed only one run. "I needed that one," Peacock said. "I made some stupid pitches in that first game. Their catcher got me at 2-0. I laid one in there and he took it to center for a three-run bomb. That was one pitch I wanted to take back. Then I hit him twice. I was a little nervous (that day)." But Peacock was able to focus on the pitching in his second opportunity, and felt no butterflies after a rough debut. "In my second start, I was able to bounce back and made some pitches," Peacock said. "I couldn't wait to get back out there after that first one. I did well. I had my fastball working. I didn't really feel like I had it in the first game. I was able to locate it and keep it down." Peacock did not have the velocity numbers on his fastball this week. He was hitting between 93 to 96 mph while in Double-A Harrisburg. However, once his fastball was hitting spots in his second start for the Chiefs, he was able to get in a nice groove with his changeup and curveball. "I had my changeup, too," Peacock said. "I threw it to righties and got some ground balls. I also used it against some lefties too. I threw my curveball every now and then. I bounced it a few times and tried it to get ahead when the count was 0-2 or 1-2." Syracuse pitching coach Greg Booker worked with Peacock during this week's bullpen session and emphasized to Peacock that he was rushing his delivery to the plate. They concentrated on slowing down his delivery during the session and Peacock said that was important to his success in that second start. Peacock is scheduled to pitch Wednesday unless there is a rain out tonight, then his third start would be moved to Thursday. Looking back to middle of July, Peacock said All-Star week was one that he will never forget. It was a whirlwind seven days for the talented right-hander: an amazing nine-pitch outing in the XM Futures Game at Chase Field, an invitation to the Eastern League All-Star Game and then his promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. "It was an awesome experience, just a crazy week," Peacock said. "The field was amazing. There were 32,000 people in the stands. My dad and my grandpa got to watch me pitch in person and my buddies and family were watching on ESPN. "I met (Louisville Bats' catcher) Devin Mesoraco. I told him he was nightmare for me in High-A last year. He is a good guy. It was a lot fun to meet those guys and talk with them."