Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers (file photo)
By Jon Weisman
Like Vin Scully says, come to the ballpark and you’ll probably see something you’ve never seen before. Like Brandon McCarthy becoming the first pitcher in Major League history to allow at least four home runs in a game, strike out at least 10 and walk none.
There’s no denying that it was disconcerting to see Nelson Cruz homer twice and Corey Seager’s brother once for a 4-0 Seattle lead before the Dodgers got their first hit of the game. And right after the Dodgers cut the Mariners’ lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth (on an Alex Guerrero sacrifice fly and Joc Pederson’s first career hit against a southpaw, a two-run single), Dustin Ackley went deep off McCarthy in the top of the fifth.
All along, McCarthy was whiffing hitters — at least one in every inning. And the steadfastness of McCarthy was such that after giving up that fourth homer, he retired the final seven batters he faced, giving the Dodgers seven innings the night before they have what is essentially a bullpen game with David Huff starting.
Yasiel Puig (solo home run), Adrian Gonzalez (double) and Howie Kendrick (single) tied the game in the bottom of the fifth at 5-5, getting McCarthy off the hook for the loss. The score remained that way through the ninth, sending the Dodgers to their second extra-inning game of the season.
McCarthy, who struck out nine while allowing two homers in his five-inning Dodger debut last week, now has the oddity of having allowed six homers and one walk in 12 innings while striking out an MLB-leading 19. McCarthy leads the Majors in homers allowed, strikeouts and strikeout-walk ratio.
The low walk totals aren’t an anomaly. McCarthy has walked no more than three batters in his last 115 starts since April 14, 2009, according to the Dodger press notes — the longest active streak in the Majors.
oldbrooklynfan
It was a good start. We won.
Tumbleweed
i really enjoyed watching him pitch. i kept calling out the # of strikeouts during the game. yelling into the crowd that despite the score he had a good amount of strike outs under his belt. i want people to believe him him. don’t count him out. i hope other’s read this article that he doesn’t walk batters. i guess someone could make the joke that he doesn’t make people walk. he makes people run. which is funny sad and cool at the same time.
Don Bright
As long as the homers are solo ones, they are livable, no walks means he’s always around the plate, and the K’s mean he’s has enough movement to fool the batter’s. I’m not thrilled about his contract and would rather him be their number 5 guy, but 2 starts, 2 wins by the team, that’s all that matters.
ERNIE WEBER
Thanks Jon for your daily reports.This story on McCarthy reminds me of Robin Roberts who pitched for the Phillies in the 50’s with similar stats. I recall that he was a “control pitcher” who also led the league in homers allowed, usually with the bases empty!Thanks,E Weber From: Dodger Insider To: ebweber@sbcglobal.net Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 9:47 PM Subject: [New post] Brandon McCarthy, Challenger of Hitters #yiv2624366213 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv2624366213 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv2624366213 a.yiv2624366213primaryactionlink:link, #yiv2624366213 a.yiv2624366213primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv2624366213 a.yiv2624366213primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv2624366213 a.yiv2624366213primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv2624366213 WordPress.com | Jon Weisman posted: “By Jon WeismanLike Vin Scully says, come to the ballpark and you’ll probably see something you’ve never seen before. Like Brandon McCarthy becoming the first pitcher in Major League history to allow at least four home runs in a game, strike out a” | |