Riverside High, USC Star Roth Gets First Major League Start

It's been quite a rookie season for former Riverside High and University of South Carolina ace pitcher Michael Roth of Greer.

Tonight, Roth will be on the mound at 10:05 p.m. Wednesday as the Anaheim Angels play host to the Texas Rangers, MLB.com reported.

Roth, who was playing with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, was called up two weeks ago by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — making him the first minor leaguer of the season to be called up to the Majors.

The result? A win in his first outing, as he pitched two perfect innings in relief against the Houston Astros.

Roth has pitched five innings for the Angels, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk while striking out seven. He replaces starting pitcher Jerome Williams, an eight-year veteran who has been moved to the bullpen by manager Mike Scioscia.

"I'm looking forward to pitching my game and [playing] some baseball," Roth told the website.

Angels' Manager Mike Scioscia opted to go with Roth because he feels it gives the team's beleaguered bullpen better options.

"It's going to be a staff day, unless Michael Roth goes and gets through six innings," Scioscia told the website. "It doesn't have to be one, but I think we can back him up with some guys if we have to. I think he's a good candidate, and it gives us more options where we can use Jerome [Williams] if we have to." 

"My arm feels good," Roth told the website. "I haven't thrown out of the 'pen on back-to-back days yet. I think I'll be all right. My last start in Double-A was five innings. I'm just going to go out there inning by inning, as cliché as that sounds. Go out there and have some fun."

Roth, 23, was the 2006 South Carolina player of the year as a sophomore at Riverside. He was named to the 3A all-state team in 2006 and 2008. The left-hander was also a member of the 2008 Big League World Series champions from Taylors. Roth (1-0, 3.60 ERA) was USC's Friday night starting ace during a legendary run in Columbia that included back-to-back national championships.