CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - The Long Island Ducks and Bridgeport Bluefish tried some radical speedup rules Saturday in an exhibition of the independent Atlantic League.
Batters were awarded walks when the count went to three balls. Strikeouts were called when there was a foul ball with two strikes.
Ten batters walked on three balls and eight batters were called out on foul balls, league spokesman Marty Appel said.
The Ducks won 1-0 with a four-hit shutout in a game that took 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Major League Baseball is trying less radical speedup rules, such as a clock timing breaks for pitching changes and between innings. For minor league teams affiliated with big league clubs, a pitch clock is being used at Triple-A and Double-A.