Huston Street

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Huston Street bigraphy, stories - American baseball player

Huston Street : biography

August 2, 1983 –

Huston Lowell Street ( born August 2, 1983) is an American baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.

Baseball career

High school and college

Street attended Westlake High School in Austin, Texas from 1997 to 2001 where he lettered in both football and baseball. He then attended The University of Texas from –, where he pitched for the school’s baseball team. He is widely regarded as one of the best collegiate closers of all time. Street earned a form of All-American honors at Texas every season he was there and helped his team win the College World Series of collegiate baseball in 2002. In that season, he set a CWS record for the most saves and won the Series Most Valuable Player honors for his amazing work as a closer. A year later, Street led the Longhorns to the Series semifinals, and in 2004, he helped his team to the finals, only to lose in two games to Cal State Fullerton. In 2010, Street was named to the NCAA College World Series Legends Team.. Oakland.athletics.mlb.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-08.

Oakland Athletics

Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round, 40th overall, of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, Street spent a few months in the minor leagues, spending no more than a month at each level. He then was invited to the Arizona Fall League where his team took the championship.

Street was called up to the major leagues at the start of the season. He became Oakland’s closer when incumbent Octavio Dotel went down in May with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. Street saved 23 games in 27 chances to go along with a 5–1 record, 72 strikeouts, and a 1.72 ERA. Only Mariano Rivera’s 1.38 ERA for the Yankees was better among American League relievers. Street had 72 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched, and opposing hitters batted only .194 against him. He was rewarded for his effort by being named Rookie of the Year, as the third player in a row who had spent some time in the Athletics organization (after Ángel Berroa in , and Bobby Crosby in 2004).

Street continued to serve as the closer for the A’s in . He finished the season with a 4-4 record, 37 saves, 67 strikeouts, a 3.31 ERA in 70.2 innings pitched, and 11 blown saves. On October 14, Street gave up a walk-off three-run home run to Magglio Ordóñez of the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS that ended the A’s postseason.

Street had a solid season in , despite missing time with an injury. He went 5–2 with a 2.88 ERA, with 16 saves and 62 strikeouts in 50 innings.

Huston struggled somewhat with a nagging injury in . After a rough stretch in July and August, he lost his closer position to rookie Brad Ziegler. Street’s health and pitching improved, although Ziegler continued to close.

Colorado Rockies

On November 12, 2008, Street was traded to the Colorado Rockies with outfielder Carlos González and pitcher Greg Smith for outfielder Matt Holliday.

He beat out Manny Corpas to earn the role of the Rockies’ closing pitcher for the 2009 season. SI.com, April 3, 2009 After poor performances by Street, Corpas was renamed the closer on April 17;, Colorado Rockies. Published April 17, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2009. however, Corpas also pitched poorly, and the closer job was given back to Street on May 1.Harding, Thomas. , Colorado Rockies. Published May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2009. Since that time, Street excelled in the closer role and was a key cog in the Rockies’ mid-season run back into the race (16–1 from June 4 to June 22). He finished 2009 with 35 saves in 37 opportunities, a 3.06 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.

After a 2009 season in which he blew only two saves, Street struggled during the playoffs for the Rockies. In Game 4 of the 2009 National League Division Series, Street entered the ninth inning with the Rockies leading 4–2. He was able to record the first two outs before allowing three runs that gave the Phillies a 5–4 win and a series victory.

Before the 2010 season, Street and the Rockies agreed on a three-year $22.5 million contract with an option for 2013.