YSU

YSU
Thomas makespro debut
EVERETT, Wash. -- Former Youngstown State pitcher Justin Thomas threw one scoreless inning in his professional debut Tuesday for the Everett Aquasox, the short-season class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
Thomas walked one batter but did not allow a hit in the ninth inning in Everett's 7-2 loss against the Boise Hawks, the Northwest League champions last season.
Thomas, who was selected 113th overall in the Major League Baseball draft, signed with the Mariners last week with a bonus of $290,000 and reported for a week of training in Peoria, Ariz.
At Youngstown State, Thomas was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year as a junior after posting a 7-5 record with a 3.42 earned-run average and a career-high 88 strikeouts.
He also earned Second-Team All-Horizon League honors as a sophomore and ranks second all-time in school history in strikeouts with 250. He finished his collegiate career with a 19-13 record and an ERA of 4.48.
AREA
Patriot Nightset in Mercer
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer Raceway Park's American Patriot Night will be held Saturday.
A complete program of Luxaire Heating & amp; Cooling Sprint Cars, Campbell-Peterson Trail & amp; Turf Modifieds, Tire Express Stock Cars, and Maurer's Trading Post Strictly Stocks will be on the racing card.
A fireworks display, sponsored by Walt's of Mercer Plaza, will be shown.
Gates open at 4:30, hot laps are at 6:15, and racing begins at 7 p.m. Adult admission costs $10. Tickets for students ages 6-15 cost $5. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. The family pass costs $25 and pit passes cost $22.
Correction
WARREN -- Champion Molded Plastics defeated Bazetta-Cortland Optimists 2-1 in a recent Warren AA game. An incorrect score was printed in Wednesday's edition of The Vindicator.
Metros earn8-0 victory
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mike Holmes scattered four hits with seven strikeouts as Youngstown Metros posted a 8-0 victory over Penn Ohio in Class AA League at Pemberton-Donnell Park.
The Metros sent nine batters to the plate in each of the second and third innings scoring three runs in each of those innings.
Although he didn't get a hit, Matt Guerrieri walked forcing in a run and he reached base on a fielder's choice that scored another run.
The Metros actually took advantage of 10 walks, wild pitch, error, passed ball, stolen base, a hit batter, two fielder's choices and six singles to produce the eight runs.
Penn Ohio managed to get runners on second base only two times during the contest.
REGION
Pirates place Gonzalez on DL
ST. LOUIS -- The Pittsburgh Pirates placed left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Gonzalez (0-3, 3.21 ERA) appeared in 31 games and pitched 28 innings. He recorded one save.
To replace Gonzalez, the Pirates recalled left-hander Mike Johnston from Triple-A Indianapolis before Thursday's game with the St. Louis Cardinals.
"Johnston is a young man who has been with us before," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's a left-hander who throws 92 to 95 and he's got a good breaking ball. He'll pitch out of the bullpen and we'll see what he's got."
Gonzalez, who has been bothered by the knee for some time, pitched one inning Wednesday in a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals. He walked two and allowed a hit and a run.
NATION
Bonds pondersplaying in '07
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds might play into the 2007 season if he's approaching Hank Aaron's home run record of 755, the Giants slugger told MLB.com.
The seven-time NL MVP, who turns 41 on July 24, hasn't played this season as he recovers from three operations on his right knee since Jan. 31. He is progressing in his rehab and still hopes to play before the end of the year.
He knows he might need to play beyond 2006 when his contract expires to reach Aaron's mark.
Staff/wire reports