Ex-UA pitcher named A's opening day starter
From staff and wire reports
In a surprise move, the Oakland A's named right-hander Gil Heredia their opening day pitcher for Monday against five-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and the defending champion New York Yankees.
Heredia, a former UA pitcher, was 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA in six starts last season for Oakland, and was expected to be their No. 4 starter going into this season.
But with ace Kenny Rogers (16-8 in 1998) not feeling up to the task after battling nagging injuries and illness for most of spring training, Heredia got the nod over veteran Tom Candiotti and Jimmy Haynes.
Manager Art Howe said starting Candiotti on three days' rest or starting Haynes would have thrown the A's pitching order into chaos.
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