COLUMBUS, Ohio – Scott Lewis, a first-team All-American in 2003 (9-1 with 1.61 ERA) who won 18 games between 2002-04 for Ohio State, pitched eight scoreless innings and allowed just three hits in his major league debut Wednesday for the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe won the game, 7-1, over Baltimore at Camden Yards and the post-game comments from coaches, players and writers about the young left-hander were glowing.

Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge: "He had some presence and pitched with confidence and poise. He commanded the ballgame. That's what you like to see anytime, much less somebody going out there for their first start."

Cleveland catcher Kelly Shoppach: "I'm sure he was nervous, but he didn't show it."

Anthony Castrovince, MLB.com: “The left-handed Lewis, a product of Ohio State and a third-round Draft pick of the Tribe in 2004, turned in a masterful eight innings of scoreless work in which he allowed just three hits. ... Lewis had impeccable fastball command and a strong changeup to go with it.”

Sheldon Ocker, Akron Beacon Journal: “Most astounding was his command of the strike zone. Throwing 85-89 mph fastballs, changeups and sliders, Lewis not only refused to allow a walk, he ran the count to three balls only three times, twice in the sixth inning. He retired all three of those batters.”

David Ginsburg, Associated Press: “Lewis (1-0) struck out three, walked none and retired the final eight batters he faced in a 96-pitch performance — 67 of which were strikes. He came three outs short of becoming the first Cleveland pitcher since Luis Tiant in 1964 to throw a shutout in his major league debut.”

And according to baseballreference.com, Lewis’ eight innings pitched was the fifth-most by an Indian in his big-league debut since 1956. Ron Taylor went 11 innings in 1962, followed by nine-inning complete games by Jim Kern (1974), Luis Tiant (1964) and Mudcat Grant (1958).

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