Last July, Philip Humber was getting beat around in Single-A ball, pitching poorly and feeling even worse. The major leagues were so far off his mental radar, the reconstructive surgery that was soon to come was almost a relief.

"I wasn't pitching well, and not having much fun with baseball," said Humber, 23. "What started the road here was the day I had surgery. I made the determination I was going to rehab as best I could and get up here in September, and it worked out.

Hopefully (yesterday) was the start of something I'll see more of." It seems a certainty. Humber showed enough while retiring Brandon Harper, Nook Logan and Felipe Lopez to impress Willie Randolph.