The Salt Lake City Trappers took this July 1990 game by a score of 16-1 and Trappers starter Ken Whitworth took the win, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote.
"It makes it a little easier when you have a big lead like that," Whitworth told The Tribune afterward. "All you have to do is pump strikes and let the hitters get themselves out."
Whitworth worked to pump strikes that year for independent Salt Lake City, in his first season as a pro. He went on to see time in just one more campaign. He made high-A.
Whitworth's career began that year in 1990, taken in the 10th round of the draft by the independent Miami Miracle out of the University of California, Irvine.
At Irvine, Whitworth threw a six-hit shutout in a March 1990 game against rival Fullerton, part of a run of success that went back to the previous season, his pitching coach Robin Dreizler told The Los Angeles Times.
"Through the first half of last season, he was just doing OK," Dreizler told The Times. "Midway through the season, something clicked and he hasn't stopped since."
That June, he was drafted by Miami and optioned to rookie Salt Lake City. There, he saw 13 outings, 12 starts. He went 7-2, with a 3.32 ERA.
In July, he beat Billings in a complete game 5-1 win, The Billings Gazette wrote.
"I was keeping ahead of the hitters on curve balls early in the game," Whitworth told The Gazette afterward. "The last couple guys I think were looking for those curve balls and I got them with fast balls. The ball was jumping well across the strike zone tonight."
Whitworth moved to high-A Miami for 1991. He saw 20 outings, 7 starts there. He went 1-7, with a 3.75 ERA to end his career.
- Los Angeles Times, March 14, 1990: Whitworth Enjoys Playing with a Winner This Season
- Salt Lake Tribune, July 21, 1990: Traps Pummel Pioneers, Win 6th Straight
- Salt Lake Tribune, Aug. 1, 1990: Ponies cling to lead
Made the Majors:1,426-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,047-68.1%-X
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