DeSclafani struggles in shortest career start
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CINCINNATI -- The Reds’ rotation has been so good, so often in 2020 that it has rarely seen how the other half lives. But over the past two games, Cincinnati has seen it too much for its liking, with back-to-back short starts that have taxed the bullpen.
Anthony DeSclafani was one reason the rotation entered Thursday with a National League-best 2.56 ERA, as he allowed only five hits in 11 scoreless innings over his first two starts. Thursday was the polar opposite of that, as DeSclafani was pummeled by the Pirates and lasted only two innings during a 9-6 loss at Great American Ball Park.
“I think his velo was fine. Just kind of sprayed the ball around a little bit, wasn't as sharp as I've seen before, clearly,” Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart said. “Just got to forget about this one and move on to five days from now.”
On Wednesday, during a 5-4 loss to the Royals, Wade Miley returned from the injured list and provided only 1 2/3 innings. Long relievers Tyler Mahle and Tejay Antone were both used in the game, so they were unavailable Thursday. Same for late-inning relievers Amir Garrett and Nate Jones, who were coming off working back-to-back nights.
Pittsburgh came in at an MLB-worst 3-13 and had been off since Sunday after its series against St. Louis was postponed. Yet, DeSclafani turned in the shortest start of his big league career, allowing a career-high nine runs on nine hits, including a trio of solo home runs, and two walks.
Adam Frazier led off the game by hitting DeSclafani’s second pitch for a home run to right-center field, ending the right-hander’s scoreless streak. With two outs, Colin Moran hit a 1-1 pitch to center field for a solo homer.
The second inning was disastrous for DeSclafani, as Gregory Polanco -- who came in batting .069 -- slugged a leadoff homer to right field. Six of the next seven batters reached on hits, followed by back-to-back walks. Manager David Bell and head trainer Steve Baumann then came out to check on DeSclafani to see if he was injured.
“I just wanted to be 100 percent sure. He said he was OK. We’ll make sure of that,” Bell said.
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The rally ended when the 12th batter of the inning, Jarrod Dyson, lined out after the Bucs had scored seven runs to extend their lead to 9-0.
“We’re used to seeing [DeSclafani] so good. You’re waiting for him to turn it around,” Bell said. “They seemed like they were on everything. You hate to keep him out there when that’s happening, but he’s such a good pitcher. And in our [bullpen] situation, he gave us everything he had in the second inning to get out of that.”
It wasn’t just that DeSclafani gave up hits, but that he gave up hard hits. Even many of the outs were tattooed. In his two previous starts, opposing hitters had barreled only one ball, and only 34 percent of contact was hard hit. The opposition’s .347 OPS this season was best among starters with at least two games pitched.
On Thursday, seven of 13 batters who made contact had exit velocities of 100 mph or higher, per Statcast.
“We caught a little bit of a tip that he was tipping,” Barnhart said of DeSclafani. “I'd rather not say exactly what it was, but we caught a tip that he was tipping, so we feel like, for the most part, that we caught it. Obviously, a little bit too late.”
Credit should go to Reds relievers Cody Reed and Michael Lorenzen, who have struggled in the first weeks of the season. Reed provided 2 2/3 scoreless innings and Lorenzen followed with 3 1/3 scoreless frames. The duo combined for two hits allowed and five strikeouts. Lucas Sims was perfect in the ninth with two strikeouts.
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Nick Senzel helped make the game closer, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning against Trevor Williams. Senzel’s RBI double in the eighth made it a 9-5 game. By the ninth, after Barnhart’s leadoff homer broke his 0-for-22 slump, the Reds had the potential tying run on deck.
“The job that Cody Reed and Michael Lorenzen did to really give us an opportunity to almost get the tying run to the plate when we were down nine runs in the second inning, never, ever expected Cody or Michael to be able to do what they did,” Bell said. “They were so efficient, just free and easy. They were able to go much longer than they have to this point. They looked good. It certainly challenged them a bit, but they made it look pretty easy. I think that was the key to letting them go a little bit further.”