CLU Sports

Round Rock Express pitcher Jason Hirsh knew something was brewing when he heard teammate Mark McLemore warming up in the bullpen.

Hirsh had cruised through two no-hit innings against the Salt Lake Bees on Tuesday night, and the Houston Astros prospect was fully expecting to last at least five more.

But as he took the mound to begin the third, Hirsh saw manager Jackie Moore walking from the dugout with a grin on his face.

"He came up, shook my hand and said, ¿Congratulations, you are going to the big leagues,''' Hirsh recalled late Tuesday night. "I was at a complete loss for words.''

Hirsh, a Cal Lutheran graduate, is scheduled to make his major league debut with the Astros on Saturday against the San Diego Padres at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

The 6-foot-8 right-hander joins a pitching rotation that includes seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens. Entering Wednesday, Houston was in third place in the National League Central Division with a 54-58 record — seven games behind division leader St. Louis.

"It is a dream come true,'' Hirsh said. "I don't think it has actually hit me yet. I am sure it will once I get to Houston and get into the locker room with my jersey hanging in the locker and meet the guys.''

Houston's top pitching prospect, the 24-year-old Hirsh was 13-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 23 starts for Triple-A Round Rock (Texas). Before being pulled against Salt Lake after 25 pitches — 19 strikes and six balls — Hirsh was in line to extend his team record for consecutive victories to 13.

Once Hirsh handed Moore the ball, he shook hands with his infielders and walked off the mound to applause from the fans in Salt Lake.

"I just sat down in the dugout and didn't know how to react,'' said Hirsh, a second-round pick in 2003. "Then, I went inside and started making some phone calls to my parents, my girlfriend and some friends at Cal Lu. I told them to spread the word.''

Hirsh's parents and girlfriend were already scheduled to come watch him pitch this weekend in Round Rock. Now they will just make the extra three-hour drive to Houston.

"It happened to work out perfectly,'' Hirsh said. "It would have been more perfect if it was down in San Diego and they wouldn't have to travel so far. But the fact they were coming out was really good timing.''

Hirsh plans to treat the Padres lineup like he would their Triple-A Portland Beavers lineup.

"I will just go about it like a regular game and not think about it being the big leagues,'' Hirsh said. "I just have to compete like I have all year, and not change my focus. Obviously, there will be about 40,000 people there cheering for me, and that will be very helpful.''

Houston manager Phil Garner said he wasn't impressed with Hirsh's performance in spring training, where the Burbank native gave up nine earned runs in eight innings before being cut from camp.

"It proves you can't do yourself any harm as long as you work hard and put forth a good effort,'' Garner told reporters. "I think his back bothered him in spring and he never was right. We didn't really see the true pitcher that he's been now. It will be interesting to see how he throws. He's been pitching very, very well. He impressed everybody down there and everybody in our system. We'll give him a shot up here.''

Hirsh considers the call up his chance for redemption, and knows Garner will be watching carefully from the dugout with an eye toward the club's future.

"He didn't see my best side, so hopefully I will change his viewpoint,'' Hirsh said. "They say the easy part is getting there and the hard part is sticking. I am going to do my best to stick.''