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Masterson will face Reds when Boston comes to town Friday
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
BEAVERCREEK — It sounds like a good excuse for a Masterson family reunion.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson, the pride of family and friends in Beavercreek and beyond, will start against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, June 13, at Great American Ball Park.
Boston Red Sox's Justin Masterson follows through on a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a baseball game at Boston's Fenway Park, Thursday, April 24, 2008. "I'm going to have 18 people sleeping on the floor after the game," Justin's mother, Judy Masterson, said with a laugh. "We're very excited that Justin will get to share it with friends and relatives who will be able to see him up close."
They all are scraping together tickets. Justin's father, Mark Masterson, estimates as many as 40 friends and family will be on hand.
"I told Justin last month, 'Wouldn't it be cool if you would be called up to pitch in Cincinnati?' and here it is," said Mark, a pastor at Creekside Community Church. "He has a lot of relatives in Indiana coming down, plus his brother Jonathan and sister Mandy.
"We had 13 messages on the answering machine congratulating us and then in the next breath, 'And, oh, by the way, 'How do we get tickets?' "
Mark and Judy were on hand for Justin's major-league debut April 24 at Fenway Park. This will be the second time they have seen their son pitch for Boston.
Masterson, a 2003 Beavercreek High School graduate, already has experienced a lot. In four starts, he is 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA.
He was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to fill in for the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka.
"It was surreal," Mark said. "Like any proud parent, you get caught up in the moment. You see him walking out to the mound, 'Wow, that's my son.' All of it has happened so quickly. We were hoping for a July call-up or September."
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Masterson was drafted just two years ago. Masterson, who has shown great poise and composure, is known for his volatile sinker ball that induces ground balls.
That could help him in a home-run haven like GABP.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2478
or rjackson@DaytonDailyNews.com.
