ANAHEIM, Calif. — Just as quickly as Torii Hunter jammed a fastball over the center-field wall at Angel Stadium, Charlie Furbush moved on to the next batter.

Ball in his left hand, inside a stadium of 40,000-plus on the Fourth of July, he struck out Bobby Abreu on a 3-2 count to settle in for his first big league start with the Detroit Tigers.

Furbush lost to the Los Angeles Angels, leaving after 42⁄3 innings, his team down 3-1 with 65 pitches to his line.

But there on a beautiful California night was that same loose, laid-back way that has led the South Portland left-hander from Division III St. Joseph’s College all the way to the majors.

“It happened. I’m over it,” said Furbush. “I’m just a relaxed guy. I didn’t worry about the home run at all.”

Neither did Manager Jim Leyland who said he thought Furbush had a pretty good start and will increase his pitch count Saturday at Kansas City, his next scheduled start.

“We think we can maybe catch lightning in a bottle,” said Leyland. “I think he’ll be fine. I can’t predict what’s going to happen but he’s definitely a top prospect and getting a chance to pitch.”

Furbush also balked in a runner in the third inning when his cleat got caught in the stretch of his delivery.

All told, he gave up three earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts, a walk, a balk and a homer.
He threw 65 pitches, 45 for strikes.

“I’m sure he had some jitters,” said Tigers catcher Alex Avila, “but I thought he played pretty good considering it was his first start.”

Furbush was inserted in the starting rotation after pitching in middle relief 12 times since being called up May 21 from Triple-A Toledo.

He loves it.

“I like knowing my role as a starter. Sometimes in the bullpen you’ve got to get in for maybe one batter, get the guy out. That’s your job,” said Furbush. “As a starter it’s something over time I’ve gotten used to. You eat up as many innings as you can and give the team a chance to win.”

From seats along the first-base line, Charlie’s dad, Craig, took it all in with Charlie’s brother, Jon, and Jon’s girlfriend.

They were joined by some friends from California, including a marine stationed in the area who was a high school classmate from South Portland.

Furbush walked Hunter on five pitches in the third inning but picked him off  to end the inning, catching him in a rundown.

“Something about his poise and self-confidence was on display (Monday) night,” said Craig Furbush. “You need that to absorb defeat and move on. That cuts really close to the kind of person he is. You can’t teach that.

“It’s just part of who he is. That’s how he was in the seventh grade. He hasn’t changed a bit.”

Adam Wilk of the Tigers, who spent parts of the last two seasons on minor league teams with Furbush, watched from the bullpen and agreed.

“He threw a lot of strikes and was pitch efficient,” said Wilk. “I thought he did a great job for his first major league start.”

And sometime between a C-17 flyover and postgame fireworks display, Furbush’s first start in the major leagues was in the books.

Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:
jmenendez@pressherald.com
Twitter: JennMenendez