LOS ANGELES (ABC 4 Sports) - Former University of Utah pitcher Stephen Fife pitched well enough to win his Major League debut, but the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen blew a lead and Fife had to settle for a no-decision in a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fife pitched six innings, allowing just one run on four hits, while striking out one batter. He left the game with a 2-1 lead and was in position to get the victory, until the Phillies scored two runs in the top of the 8th inning to take the lead for good.
Fife is just the second former University of Utah pitcher to ever start a Major League game, joining Bill Parsons, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1971-1973. Fife is the 7th player from Utah to play in a big league game, and the first since first baseman Chris Shelton suited up for the Seattle Mariners in 2009.
Fife, drafted in the third round by the Boston Red Sox in 2008, was called up to the Dodgers when Chad Billingsley went on the disabled list. It appears Fife pitched well enough to earn a second start this weekend.
Fife played two seasons at Utah in 2007 and 2008, notching a career record of 13-7 with an ERA of 4.01.
