Scott Klingenbeck of the Salt Lake Buzz feels he deserves to be in the major leagues right now and he's not shy about saying so.
Another minor league pitching outing or two like his gem Sunday night against the Calgary Cannons and Klingenbeck will, no doubt, be back in "The Show."Klingenbeck, frustrated when a Buzz teammate was promoted to the parent Minnesota Twins instead of him on Sunday, took his frustrations out on the Cannons. He hurled a six-hit complete game shutout to lead Salt Lake to a 1-0 win.
Salt Lake improved to 6-1 in the second half with the victory, while the Cannons dropped to 5-2.
Klingenbeck spent most of last season in the majors - first with the Baltimore Orioles and then with the Twins. He's been the most consistent starter for the Buzz all year, going at least five innings in each of his 16 starts. His 3.38 ERA leads the Buzz and is the sixth best in the PCL.
Yet Sunday the Twins promoted Buzz lefty Dan Serafini, whose 5.13 ERA pales by comparison. Serafini, who was scheduled to pitch tonight for Salt Lake, will instead start one of Minnesota's games during a doubleheader against the New York Yankees Tuesday.
"All I can say is that I beat the Yankees last year in Camden Yards and I only gave up two runs," said Klingenbeck. "I'm not very happy about (not getting the promotion), but I've got to live with it."
Buzz manager Phil Roof understands Klingenbeck's frustration, but is quick to note that the reason Serafini was promoted was because the Twins wanted a left-handed starter.
"(Klingenbeck) may feel like he's being slapped in the face, but he's not a left-hander and they asked for a left-hander," said Roof. "He feels like somebody up there (with the Twins) doesn't like him, but they don't care if you're the Hunchback of Notre Dame if you can throw strikes and get guys out."
Klingenbeck has been throwing strikes and getting guys out with regularity of late. In his last eight starts he's 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA.
"If he keeps pitching like that, there will be a place for him up there," said Roof.
The Buzz managed just seven hits against a trio of Cannon pitchers - and only one hit that mattered. Catcher Damian Miller's solo homer in the fourth inning was all the run production the Buzz would get or need.
Serafini, meanwhile, will make his major league debut Tuesday.
"I was just getting ready today and thinking about how I would pitch against (the Cannons) tomorrow when I found out (about the call up)," said the 22-year-old Serafini. "I'm excited and a little bit nervous, but that's typical I guess."
Brett Roberts (6-5, 5.23 ERA) is scheduled to start in Seraini's place for the Buzz tonight to close out the eight-game homestand against Calgary lefty Matt Ruebel.
BUZZ BRIEFS: Tonight's game will be broadcast live by KTVX (Channel 4) . . . Sunday's win was the first 1-0 victory for the Buzz in Franklin Quest Field's three-year history. The only other 1-0 victory in Buzz history was during the PCL Northern Division playoffs at Vancouver in 1994 . . . Viewmont High graduate Reed Secrist, who lives in Farmington during the offseason, went 0-for-3 against Klingenbeck. Secrist is still among the league's top 10 hitters with a .330 batting average . . . To make room for Serafini, the Twins have sent right-handed pitcher Pat Mahomes to Salt Lake.