PITTSBURGH, Pa. — James McDonald wasn’t able to pitch out of the second inning of Monday’s start against the St. Louis Cardinals raising concern about his health. The right-hander was charged with eight runs (three earned) on eight hits over just 1.2 innings. It marked his shortest start since April 30th, 2009 with the Los Angeles Dodgers when he allowed three runs on two hits over 1.2 frames with four walks and no strikeouts.
After the game either McDonald nor Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle had reasons for the dip in velocity, or where the righty is at health-wise.
“That’s not a question I’m…I’m looking for more in game questions,” McDonald said when asked about his health.
“I don’t want to speculate right now,” Hurdle said. “I haven’t had any conversations with him. I’m probably not going to have any answers for you along those lines tonight. Haven’t seen anything glaring, but we saw what you saw as far as velocity, finish, command. There was some challenges out there for him.”
McDonald’s velocity has dropped in 2013, which could be a concern. He was hitting 88-90 in his outing on Monday against St. Louis. According to Fangraphs, McDonald’s average fastball velocity was 91.8 mph, topping out at 95 last season. Entering game action, the right-hander has been averaging 89.8, topping out at just 92.5 in 2012. The 28-year-old said after the game that he doesn’t have a reason for the dip in velocity.
McDonald allowed eight runs (three earned) on eight hits in his third outing of the 2013 season on Monday. He walked two and didn’t strike out a batter while throwing 46 pitches, 27 for strikes.
The first inning was a strange one for McDonald, who was able to escape a jam allowing one run.
Jon Jay and Matt Carpenter led of with back-to-back singles. Matt Holliday ripped a single off the Roberto Clemente wall in right, but a base running blunder worked out in McDonald’s favor. Holliday headed to second to stretch the hit into a double, but both Cardinal runners were already on second and third base. Holliday was tagged out in a run down between first and second for the first out of the frame. McDonald gave up one run after Allen Craig grounded to third base for the forceout allowing Jay to score.
The second inning, however, McDonald wasn’t able to finish allowing six runs to touch home plate.
Jay drove in a pair with a double down the right field line. It was the second extra-base hit in the frame, as the righty allowed a walk and a double prior. The third run scored after Holliday hit a routine grounder to short. Clint Barmes’ throw to first nicked off Garrett Jones’ glove at first for an error. And that’s when the inning spiraled out of control.
Craig picked up two more RBI’s with a liner off the wall in center field. Carlos Beltran picked up a RBI knock and came around to score with a single to right center from Yaider Molina. Hurdle yanked McDonald with two outs in the frame and lefty Justin Wilson came in for long relief from the bullpen to get the final out of the second. The Cardinals combined for five hits and a walk in the inning off McDonald.
“Left the ball up, got behind guys,” McDonald said. “Good hitters are going to hit. I didn’t keep my team in the game today and that’s what happens when you make bad pitches, you get hit hard. I threw a lot of bad pitches, didn’t hit my spots and they made me pay.”
“There wasn’t anything real crisp. The execution, the lack of it,” Hurdle said. “He just couldn’t get the ball where he wanted to get it. Couldn’t repeat it. It was hard out there for him. Too many pitches up out over the plate. Too good of a hitting team.”
The Pirates starters so far this season haven’t been able to pitch deep into the game. The bullpen has been taxed and pitching heavy loads already into the young season. Pittsburgh starters have pitched at least 6.0 frames only four times this season out of their 13 games. Hurdle said he’s not going to worry yet on the work load from his relievers just yet, and could look to different options to handle it.
“I’m not going to worry about it because guys are going to pitch,” Hurdle said. “We’re going to have a guy out there every inning we play. The starters do understand that they do need to make this thing work. There’s different ways if you get pinched on ways to handle it. Whether you bring up another arm or two. There’s different ways to do it to keep things in play until you start getting the length you need.”
“The hiccups we’ve had off the mound have been challenging. We’ve been able to handle them so far…Right now, we’ve got to find out where James is at and what’s going on and move on from there.”
— Despite the rough outing from McDonald, the Pirates bats were able to pound out six runs on 12 hits, falling short in the 10-6 loss. Pittsburgh strung together a one run first, three run frame in the third, and scored two runs in the eighth. Starling Marte continued his hot start to the season by leading off the first inning with a double to left around. He would come around to score on a RBI single from Garrett Jones. It extended his hitting streak to nine games, and during that time, Marte has gone 18-for-37 with five extra base hits. Neil Walker had a two hit effort driving in a pair of RBI’s against the Cardinals.
— Russell Martin moved to third base in the sixth inning for his first time in the Majors at the hot corner since 2011 with the New York Yankees. Prior to the game on Monday, Manager Clint Hurdle said he felt comfortable playing Martin at third due to the heavy outfield bench. The Pirates currently only have one backup infielder (John McDonald) with the recall of Alex Presley earlier today.
— Bryan Morris made his season debut in the sixth inning. The right-handed reliever was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on April 12, when the Pirates designated Chris Leroux for assignment. Morris tossed three scoreless innings with no hits, three walks and one strikeout. The bullpen of Justin Wilson, Morris and Tony Watson allowed just two runs over the final six innings.
“Justin Wilson threw 95 pitches over the last three days, and Bryan Morris was able to go out there,” Hurdle said. “The job those two guys did tonight was outstanding.”
