Marktplatz » "We just didnt execute pitches like on my part, an

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Houston Astros had the No. 1 pick again, and this time, they took a pitcher polished beyond his years. California high school left-hander Brady Aiken was the first selection in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday night. "Its the most advanced high school pitcher Ive ever seen in my entire career," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "He has command like Ive never seen before of his stuff." The 17-year-old from San Diegos Cathedral Catholic High School is just the third prep pitcher to be selected first overall, joining fellow lefties Brien Taylor (1991, Yankees) and David Clyde (1973, Rangers). The Miami Marlins made it the first time high school pitchers were the top two picks in the draft when they selected Tyler Kolek, a hard-throwing right-hander from Shepherd High School in Texas. Twenty pitchers were taken in the first round, tying the draft record set in 2001. The Astros are the first team to select first in three consecutive drafts, having picked shortstop Carlos Correa in 2012 and right-hander Mark Appel last year. Aiken is in line to receive a huge contract. The allotted slot bonus for the top pick is nearly $8 million. "Unbelievable. Its really a dream come true," Aiken said. "This is something that Ive wanted ever since I was a young kid. Im at a loss for words. This is my dream and its finally starting to come true." Aiken is also the first high school lefty to be drafted in the first five picks since Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Baltimore in 2002. The UCLA recruit, who compared himself to Clayton Kershaw and David Price, has terrific control of a fastball that hits 96-97 mph, a knee-buckling curve and a tough changeup that sits in the low- to mid-80s. The 6-foot-5 Kolek has a fastball that sits in the high-90s and touched 100-102 mph several times, causing many to compare him to fellow Texas flamethrowers such as Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett. "How do you pass up a guy throwing 100?" Marlins manager Mike Redmond said after Miamis 11-6 win at Tampa Bay. "So, Im happy with the pick. Its a big, old, country strong right-hander." The Chicago White Sox selected North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon with the third overall pick. The 6-3, 235-pound junior was widely regarded as the top college pitcher available and had been in the mix to go No. 1 overall. He followed a dominant sophomore year with a solid but not spectacular junior season. Indiana slugger Kyle Schwarber went No. 4 overall to the Chicago Cubs as the first position player selected. He is a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the best catcher in Division I, although he could move to third base or the outfield in the pros. "Well let that play out," Cubs senior vice-president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod said. Nick Gordon, the son of former big league pitcher Tom Gordon and brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, went fifth overall to Minnesota. The Florida high school slick-fielding shortstop was the first of the seven prospects in attendance at MLB Network Studios to have his name called by Commissioner Bud Selig, who is retiring in January and presiding over the draft for the final time. After a few interviews, Gordon breathed a big sigh of relief and gave his father a huge hug. "This is a proud moment. Its hard to describe," Tom Gordon said. "I have nothing but pride and pure joy for my boys." Gordon, from Orlandos Olympia High School, also has some family bragging rights now: His father was a sixth-rounder by Kansas City in 1986, while his brother was a fourth-rounder by Los Angeles in 2008. "Were pretty much the same player," Nick Gordon said of the brothers. "You know, hes got a little bit more speed than I do, Ive got a little bit more pop than he does. But, you know, we model our game after each other." A few other players followed in the footsteps of famous family members. Wichita State first baseman Casey Gillaspie went 20th overall to Tampa Bay, 17 spots ahead of where his brother Conor, the White Soxs third baseman, was picked in 2008. "I cant really compare myself to him because hes in the big leagues," Casey said. "It was cool when it happened, but now Im just ready and focused." San Francisco outfielder Bradley Zimmer was taken 21st by Cleveland. His brother, Kyle, was the fifth overall pick by Kansas City in 2012. With the next pick, Detroit took California high school outfielder Derek Hill, whose father Orsino was a first-rounder in January 1982 and is now a scout for the Dodgers. California high school catcher Alex Jackson went sixth to Seattle, which intends to move him to the outfield. "Ive been playing multiple positions my whole life," Jackson said. "Its nothing extra ordinary that has been thrown my way. Im looking forward to getting out there competing." LSU righty Aaron Nola was the seventh overall selection by Philadelphia. Evansville lefty Kyle Freeland, a Colorado native, went No. 8 to the Rockies and said hes used to pitching in the thin Denver air and isnt afraid of it. East Carolina right-hander Jeff Hoffman went ninth to Toronto, which also took Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost two picks later. The New York Mets rounded out the top 10 picks by selecting Oregon State outfielder Michael Conforto. In the year of Tommy John surgery in baseball, two pitchers who recently had the operation were selected in the first 18 picks -- a sign that teams are confident in the success rate of the procedure. Even though theyll likely be sidelined for 12-18 months, Hoffman and UNLV righty Erick Fedde (No. 18 to Washington) remained attractive prospects. Vanderbilt righty Tyler Beede was the 14th overall pick by San Francisco, becoming the 18th player in draft history to be selected in the first round of two June drafts. He went 21st to Toronto in 2011. St. Louis wrapped up the first round of the draft, which is held over three days and 40 rounds, by selecting California high school righty Jack Flaherty at No. 34 -- seven picks after taking Florida State right-hander Luke Weaver. Gareth Morgan, from Toronto, was the first Canadian selected this year. The right-handed outfielder was drafted out of Blyth Academy by the Seattle Mariners, 74th overall. "Im honoured that the Mariners selected me and its also very special to be the first Canadian to be taken in the draft," said Morgan from his home in Toronto where he was following the draft with his family. "I have worked very hard throughout my career for this moment and Im excited for what the future holds." 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After Andrew Romine served up two monster home runs in the inning, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he thought Romine was one of the bright spots on the night, showing just how bad the series opener against the last-place Minnesota Twins went for the Tigers.ATLANTA -- Marlins manager Mike Redmond believes his team pitched well enough to win a three-game series at Turner Field. Unfortunately, Miamis batters produced just four runs. "We had several chances," Redmond said. "We were 1 for 7 today with runners in scoring position. Really, we scored on a blooper. Other than that -- 16 strikeouts -- thats a lot of strikeouts. We needed that big hit and didnt get it, and they did." Pinch-hitter Evan Gattis broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run double off A.J. Ramos, and the Marlins lost 3-1 to Atlanta on Wednesday. With the score 1-all in the eighth, Mike Dunn (1-3) walked Chris Johnson with one out after the batter fell behind 0-2 in the count. Dan Uggla reached on a two-out infield single, Ramos relieved and Gattis, hitting for Jordan Schafer, doubled to left. "I had faith in my fastball, but when you throw it that far down the plate, anybody can hit it and hit it like he did," Ramos said. "It was just a bad pitch over the middle and he did what he was supposed to do with it." Gattis two-run, 10th-inning homer beat the Marlins 4-2 in the series opener. He is hitting .351 with five homers and 10 RBIs in his last 10 games, a span of 37 at-bats. "Today I saw three pitches and got one I could handle," Gattis said. "I was just trying to stay loose. It was the same thing as the other day with the home run. Just trying to stay loose against a guy with a lot of velocity." Aaron Harang allowed one run and six hits in six innings with 11 strikeouts and one walk, raising his ERA from 0.70 to 0.85. Braves pitchers struck out 16 in all, giving them 41 strikeouts and five walks -- one intentional -- in the three-game series. Miami pitchers struck out 37 and walked nine. "Especially against a team like this that can really pitch, you know that youre not going to get a whole lot of opportunities," Redmond said. "When yyou do, you need to take advantage of them.dddddddddddd." David Carpenter (1-0) relieved with two on and two outs in the eighth and retired Casey McGehee on a flyout. Making his first appearance since his first blown save of the season on Monday, Craig Kimbrel retired Derek Dietrich on a flyout, then struck out Adeiny Hechavarria and Jarrod Saltalamacchia for his sixth save. Nathan Eovaldi gave up one run -- unearned -- and five hits in six innings. Miami lost two of three in the series, dropping to 1-8 on the road this year. Marlins reliever Carlos Marmol left in the seventh after straining his right hamstring on a walk to Jason Heyward. Ryan Doumits run-scoring single put the Braves ahead in the fourth. Giancarlo Stanton tied the score in the sixth with a bloop RBI double to left-centre. "We could have won the game," Ramos said. "We just didnt execute pitches like on my part, and some plays werent made and some things went their way. Thats the way the series was, and they took advantage of the mistakes that we made. We kind of just kept making them." NOTES: Jose Fernandezs 1-0 victory Tuesday over Alex Wood was the first game in which teams combined for at least 28 strikeouts and no walks since 1900, the teams said, citing the Elias Sports Bureau ... Fernandez, at 21 years, 265 days old, became the fourth-youngest pitcher with at least 14 strikeouts and no walks in a game. The others were Cincinnatis Gary Nolan in 1967, Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets twice in 1984 and the Chicago Cubs Kerry Wood in 1998. ... Miamis Christian Yelich has a 17-game hitting streak. ... Freddie Freeman went 0 for 10 in the series. ... The Marlins optioned RHP Arquimedes Caminero to Triple-A New Orleans and recalled RHP Carter Capps. ... Braves C Gerald Laird threw out Hechavarria at second on the games only stolen base attempt, ending the third. ' ' '