PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A career-high six strikeouts for reliever-turned-starter Carmen Mlodzinski as he gives up a run over five innings for his first MLB win as a starter, final 8-4 over the Cardinals Monday night.
It was Mlodzinski’s seventh attempt to win starting a game in the majors. It’s his first victory opening a game since September 16, 2022 in AAA and his most strikeouts since September 10, 2022 in AAA.
“It felt good. I think any time your offense scores some runs early for you, you can confidently go after hitters, which I feel like me and Joey did a decent job of today,” Mlodzinski said.
The 26-year-old said he did a lot of work between starts working through issues of facing a lineup a second time. He felt like he kept the Cardinals more on their heels.
“Execution of the breaking ball,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton of what was different this time with Mlodzinski. “I think that was what it came down to the last time through, and I think we talked about it in the pregame, the execution of the breaking ball wasn't as good. Because of it, he gave up some hits. It wasn't hard-contact hits, but he gave up hits. Today I thought he did a good job of mixing, especially with the changeup.”
“He’s got really good stuff, battling one inning versus five to seven innings is a lot different,” said catcher Joey Bart. “He knows how to do it. When they made that decision (of stretching him out to be a starter), I was thrilled with it. I think he’s really talented and can be a really, really good starter.”
Thomas Harrington started the game on April 1st going four innings and six runs allowed. Monday, he came out of the bullpen pitching four innings for his first MLB save. The rookie right-hander allowed three runs. First four-inning save by a Pirate since Jason Christensen July 17, 1998 against the Expos.
"It was sick,” Harrington said. “(Oscar Marin) came up to me in the dugout and was like, 'You wanna finish this thing?' I was like, 'Absolutely.' It was really cool to get the last out. I think it was like the second time I've ever done that in a game, so it was cool.”
Pirates jumped out offensively on a Joey Bart home run (first of the season) to make it 1-0 in the first. Tommy Pham led off the second with a base hit off third base and after a flyout, a double from Endy Rodriguez and a two-run single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa made it 3-0. Ke’Bryan Hayes’ single would drive Kiner-Falefa home after he advanced to second on a ground out to make it 4-0.
After the Cardinals cut the lead in half, Andrew McCutchen ripped a double into the left-center gap driving in a pair to make it 6-2. McCutchen now has 2,160 hits tying him with Larry Walker on the all-time list and now eight hits from the top 200. McCutchen scored on a triple by Bart, the third of his career. Oneil Cruz sacrifice fly scored Bart as the top four in the order combined to drive in six.
Related
Notes
· 8 is the most runs the Pirates scored all year, double the previous 9-inning total
· Every Pirate in the lineup either was on base or drove in a run but Alexander Canario
· It’s the first game this year the Pirates won without a starter going six innings
· Other Pirates to get first save going 4 innings—Jim Winn (1984), Cecilio Guante (1983), Larry McWilliams (1982), Nellie Briles (1971)
· Pirates are 4-1 when leading after 7 innings
Up Next
Paul Skenes (1-0, 1.46 ERA) makes his home season debut Tuesday night against veteran righty Sonny Gray. First pitch at 6:40 with Dan Zangrilli hosting the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 5:45p.