Jake McLintock is about to make his first professional start against the Long Beach Armada, the GBL's hottest team with seven straight wins. The right-handed reliever, probably the most even-keel member on an Outlaw roster full of them, is filling in for Nick Singleton, who injured the index finger on his (right) throwing hand in his last start. Manager Mark Parent isn't looking for lights-out stuff from McLintock, just an efficient enough start to kill about five or six innings and get the team to tomorrow's game without too much of an adventure involving the bullpen.

In 15 relief appearances this season, McLintock is 2-1 with a 4.26 earned-run average and two saves. He did face Long Beach in that forgettable 16-0 Friday the 13th loss in Chico earlier this month, mopping up that night with four innings of work that saw him give up six hits, three walks, three runs and a home run. McLintock's girlfriend (I would mention her name here if I knew it — I know, I'm slacking) is also a resident of nearby Huntington Beach, one of the reasons he always enjoys the Southern California trips.