Sept. 4, 2010
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (UCFAthletics.com) - Pitching on three days rest going back to his last start with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, former UCF pitcher Matt Fox made his Major League Baseball debut Friday, guiding the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers. Over 40,000 fans gave Fox a standing ovation as he left in the sixth inning, earning a no decision in 5.2 innings of work.
Fox (who played for UCF from 2002-04) became the second UCF alum to make his MLB debut with the Twins this year, as catcher Drew Butera (2003-05) made the Opening Day roster at the beginning of the season. Fox's last appearance in a UCF uniform was June 4, 2004, when the No. 20 Knights defeated No. 24 Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament. Fox lasted 7.2 innings for the win while his catcher, Butera, went 2-for-4 at the dish.
Butera may not have seen time in Friday's game for the Twins, but catcher Joe Mauer helped lead Fox through an evening where the first-place Twins were able to hold ground in the American League Central standings. Wearing No. 61, Fox finished with just four hits allowed and two runs against as Minnesota eventually took the lead for good in the seventh inning while facing the AL-West leading Rangers.
Fox, the 2004 Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year while with UCF, was selected by the Twins in the first round in the 2004 draft before suffering injuries that limited the right-hander early in his professional career. He eventually worked his way from the rookie level all the way to Triple-A in 2010 where he was 6-9 with a 3.95 ERA with the Red Wings until being called up to the Majors Friday.