PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It wasn’t technically a start, but Wednesday night coming in to begin the second inning was the best long performance of Carmen Mlodzinski’s MLB career as the Pirates beat Washington 2-0 at PNC Park.
The 27-year-old allowed only two hits over six innings with two walks, a hit batter and five strikeouts. Only two Washington runners got to second base off Mlodzinski.
"Honestly nothing different than any other outing I've had so far this year,” Mlodzinski said. “The reason was just to give me a better pocket and let Mason dominate lefties like he's done this year. Didn't really go in with a different mindset. Kind of same prep and first inning was kind of quick so I was able to kind of stay (on the schedule I had as a starter)."
He joined Harvey Haddix, Al McBean, Vernon Law, Dock Ellis and Bob Johnson as Pirates who pitched six innings of scoreless relief with two or fewer hits.
In his last two outings 11.1 innings, 8 hits, no runs, 5 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Mason start
Left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery made his first career MLB start, giving up a one-out double and that’s it over the only inning he worked.
"I guess slightly different with the timing of things, but I tried to keep it the same, as much as I could,” Montgomery said. “Afterwards, it was a lot of downtime in the clubhouse."
The 25-year-old said it was a little weird knowing who he would be facing and said it was a bit more relaxed and stress-free.
Glove work
In his career, Nick Yorke has played 13 games at third base. Due to the injury to Jared Triolo, Yorke is in a platoon at third with Nick Gonzales. In the sixth inning with the Pirates leading 2-0, Yorke dove to his left, quickly got to his feet and robbed Brady House of a one-out hit.
What made this play more impactful, is the next hitter, CJ Abrams doubled and House likely would have scored. Instead it went to the bottom of the sixth with the Bucs still up 2-0.
"That was obviously a really good play,” Mlodzinski said. “I don't know if it was necessarily crushed off the bat so he had to be kind of quick getting to his feet. It was going to be a tough play for Nick at short to backhand that and throw that quickly so I think Yorke was kind of the only player there and it was bang-bang and just grateful to be able to get that one. A good defensive play for sure."
Scoring
Pirates got their only runs in the first inning. After Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe struck out, Bryan Reynolds walked. Then a looping single to left by Ryan O’Hearn, an RBI single to right from Marcell Ozuna and infield single by Nick Gonzales brought home the other run.
Prospect watch
20-year-old catcher Axiel Plaz has had a big start to the season, Wednesday going 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored. The right-hand hitter is batting .382 for the season with a .475 on-base percentage and 1.151 OPS. Last year in 66 games, the Venezuela native hit .236/.327 with a .741 OPS with 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 46 RBIs.
Up Next
Pirates announced Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.12 ERA, 17 innings, 12 hits, 5 walks, 20 strikeouts, 1.00 WHIP) will start tomorrow against Nationals lefty Foster Griffin (2-0, 1.76). Paul Alexander has the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 11:35a on 100.1 FM and AM 1020, KDKA.
"I just see a bunch of guys that are showing up every day to compete and win on that day, not worried about the day before,." said Pirates manager Don Kelly. "How it went, whether it was good, bad, indifferent. They're showing up, having fun, working hard every day. The work that our guys put in today after a tough last night with the outfielders throwing home, the energy that they had throughout the whole day. It was really cool to see."
Mlodzinski’s line in win over the Nationals
Mlodzinski’s line in win over the Nationals
