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Borkowski still throwing for Ottawa May 23, 2005 I went to the Diamond in Richmond this weekend to see the R-Braves play Baltimore’s AAA team, the Ottawa Lynx. The nice thing about AAA baseball is you get to see players coming from the majors and going to the majors. The Lynx had a warrior on the mound Saturday night, Dave Borkowski. Borkowski was the 294th pick in the 1995 draft. The Sterling Heights, Michigan native was given a chance to play for the hometown team when the Detroit Tigers took him in the 11th round. He advanced through the Tigers system, reaching the bigs in 1999. He pitched for the Tigers until 2001, compiling 2-9 record. He returned to the minors, bottoming out in 2002 with the GCL Tigers after an injury. 2003 gave him his break, as he was signed by the Orioles as a reclamation project. A strong showing got him from Bowie to Ottawa in 2004 and then a good AAA showing got him a July call up to fill in the injury-plagued Orioles rotation. In his first game back in the majors, he threw an eight inning masterpiece against Tampa Bay. Later that month, he had the pleasure of tossing a seven inning three hitter against the Boston Red Sox and Curt Schilling. The Orioles besting Schilling that night 4-1 behind Borkowski who struck out seven and walked none. In fact, no Red Sox made it past second base against him. Later that year, he returned to earth and finished the year in the Birds bullpen. This year he did not make the 40 man roster and was sent to Ottawa out of spring training. On this Saturday night in Richmond, Borkowski and the veteran-laden Lynx faced the reeling Richmond Braves. Borkowski went seven innings, giving up just one earned run and pitching out of trouble in three other innings. All told, he struck out six Braves, walked none and spread out nine hits. The Braves trotted out a lineup which included prospects Andy Marte and Tony Pena, Jr.; however, they were no match for the veteran Borkowski. With the bases loaded and two outs in the 3rd inning, Borkowski induced Marte to ground out to Napoleon Calzado at third. Calzado made the play interesting, dropping the ball before firing a zoomie across the infield to Alejando Freire, who came off the bag to make the catch and tag Marte out to end the threat. Sunday’s game ended no differently for the Braves, who continued their losing ways. This time minor league veteran Tony Fiore and a younger Lynx lineup topped the Braves and prospect Daniel Curtis, 4-2. Marte went 2-4 in the losing effort. The Lynx trotted out Walter Young, Tim Raines, Jr. and Keith Reed (just back from a week in Baltimore) to go with their veterans. Young was shut down, except for a gigantic sacrifice fly which was as high as it was long. He is truly a huge person. I have seen Sam Horn and, believe me, he is smaller than Young. All told, it was a great weekend for baseball! --- John
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