John Ely uncorks a first inning pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Staium on Thursday night. (AP)
John Ely is a genuine pride of the South Side – Harvey, to be exact. So what is he doing helping out the Cubs?
Ely, making just his second big league start – and first home start at that – was a human wrecking ball for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the North Siders’ nemesis Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.
With no less than Vin Scully singing his praises, Ely spun a gem at Chavez Ravine and was in position to earn the win before a Jonathan Broxton meltdown in the ninth. At one point, Ely sat down 16 in a row.
Allowing just one run in six and two-thirds innings Ely, who now has 72 games under his belt in three professional seasons, only allowed two runners as far as second base and took particular interest in embarrassing Jim Edmonds, saddled with three of Ely’s seven strikeouts off a variety of high-80s fastballs and and assortment of on-the-corners breaking stuff.
It’s a vast improvement on his shaky debut against the Mets, where he lasted six innings, but was touched up for 5 runs.
Ely, called up to sub for a disabled Vicente Padilla, may not get another chance on the Dodger Stadium bump with Jeff Weaver expected back from injury Friday. But with the command he showed Thursday night, he’ll also likely find his way back pitching with the big club in the near future.
One thing is for sure: Ely’s domination was likely just a little more painful for Sox fans. He was drafted and signed as a Sox in 2007 out of Homewood-Flossmoor, but ended his South Side career as the player to be named that completed the Juan Pierre deal in December 2009.
