Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Baseball Graduate Eric Junge Recalled by the Phillies; Kevin McDowell At Lakeland
4/8/2003 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 8, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Two Bucknell University graduates, Eric Junge '99 and Kevin McDowell '01, started the 2003 baseball season on the mound in the professional ranks. Junge pitched opening day, April 3, with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, before being recalled by the Phillies on Saturday. McDowell, a member of the Detroit Tigers single-A affiliate in Lakeland, Fla., pitched an away game at Tampa on Sunday.
Junge, a 1999 graduate, pitched one inning in relief on Sunday against the Pirates while giving up one run on two hits. The Phillies fell to the Pirates, 2-0.
Junge made his first appearance in the 2003 season on opening day at Lackawanna Stadium in Scranton, Pa. Junge pitched the first five innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He allowed three runs, one unearned, on four hits and struck out three batters, while walking two. Junge was replaced at the top of the sixth by Amaury Telemaco, with the Red Barons up 4-3. The Red Barons eventually lost 5-4 to the Ottawa Lynx.
In September 2002, Junge was called up to the major leagues for the first time in his baseball career. He is the first Bucknellian to appear in a major league baseball game since Bob Keegan's six-year pitching career ended with the Chicago White Sox in 1958. Junge earned his first two victories in his first four appearances as a major leaguer.
McDowell pitched for the Lakeland Tigers on Sunday, April 6. He pitched five innings and gave up one run on three hits but received a no-decision. He also struck out three and walked two. The Tigers fell to Tampa Yankees, 5-4. McDowell was replaced by teammate Trevor Leu in the sixth inning.
McDowell was placed with Lakeland after pitching for a year with the West Michigan Whitecaps (A), also an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. McDowell finished the 2002 season with an 11-6 record and a 2.60 ERA. The former Bison pitched in 27 games for the Whitecaps covering 166.1 innings. He allowed 156 hits, however he struck out 123 batters and walked 64.
