DENVER, CO - MAY 31: Starting pitcher Bud Norris #20 of the Houston Astros looks on from the dugout against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 31, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. Norris was removed from the game after 1 2/3 innings after giving up 8 earned runs. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) Doug Pensinger
SAN FRANCISCO
IT'S JUST UNDER 40 miles from San Marin High's Gomez Field to Willie Mays Plaza, but Bud Norris has had to travel a lot further than that to reach the pitcher's mound at AT&T Park.
Norris, 27, is currently the No. 3 starter for the Houston Astros, who drafted the former Mustang in 2006.
"It's always nice, coming home and seeing friendly faces and friendly scenery," Norris said after pitching in Tuesday's game at San Francisco. "Any time I get to come back to the bay, I enjoy it."
Norris took the loss, and left Tuesday's game early with a left knee sprain, but is making his mark on the organization â€" including owning the single-game strikeout record (14) at Minute Maid Park.
"It feels good. You work hard in college, and you work hard in Little League, and you work hard in high school, all the way up the ladder, and lucky enough I got drafted," he said.
Being drafted by the Astros in the sixth round may have been luck, but it's been hard work that's put Norris where he is today.
"He's got a great arm," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who's seen Norris pitch against the team before. "He got a bad break tonight, with the injury, but he had great stuff and we knew it."
Norris struck out Gregor Blanco and Ryan Theriot to start the game, but tweaked his knee while covering first base on a ground ball hit by Melky Cabrera. He continued to pitch and struck out
five in 31/3 innings of work, but it was frustrating for Norris, who simply wants to contribute to his team."This leg injury has been kind of hampering me and it's tough, because you want to go out there and compete, and help, but not pitching at 100 percent makes it that much harder," said Norris, who had a fabulous stretch in May going 4-0 with an 0.35 earned-run average over four starts but has hit on hard times since, going 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA in the four starts since. "I've got a long season left in me and I've got to help these guys do as best we can and finish strong."
Teammate and friend Chris Johnson sees the work Norris (5-4) puts in, day in and day out.
"He's a competitor. First and foremost, he's got a great arm. His pitching ability speaks for itself," Johnson said.
Johnson was drafted in the same year as Norris, just two rounds apart.
"We've been together since Day 1," he said. "We've been through the ups and downs, and we're usually always there for each other, helping each other out."
Norris is great at "turning the page once the game's over," Johnson added. "He's a great guy."
After three seasons in the major leagues, Norris is humble, and recognizes the humility of the sport.
"This game, you know, it's very humbling," he said. "But you keep working hard, you get up the next day, put your work in, and get ready for your next one. That's kind of where I'm at, see where this knee (sprain) takes me, and go from there."
Contact Jamie Wells at sports@marinij.com
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