Coney Island, N.Y. (July 20, 2006)-Former Manhattan pitcher
Chris Cody was bound to always remember his first game back in New York City since his graduation two months ago. After playing a New York-Penn League record 26 innings, his Oneonta teammates and the Brooklyn Cyclones will not forget it either. Cody, who made his sixth professional start with the Tigers, pitched the first six innings of the affair surrendering only one run on four hits.
"Did I pitch today?" said a joking Cody more than seven hours after he delivered his first pitch. "I'm glad it's finally over and that we came out on top."
After allowing a first-inning run, Cody and seven other Tiger hurlers combined to shut the Cyclones out over the next 25 frames. With the game deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the 26th inning, Oneonta finally broke out for five runs and a 6-1 victory.
"He [Cody] looked good out there," said current Manhattan skipper
Kevin Leighton, who stayed for all 26 innings along with his assistant
Mike Cole. "He's a special kid and I'm glad I got to see him today, but I think Mike and I would have preferred your regular nine-inning game."
Leighton watched his former ace continue the great control that helped make Cody the 2006 MAAC Pitcher of the Year. In the six frames on Thursday afternoon, Cody struck out four and walked only one. Over the first 29.2 innings of his professional career, the southpaw has fanned 22 batters and walked only three. His 2.12 earned run average is the best of any Oneonta starter so far this season.
