Maholm tosses another shutout
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:32 am
9/17/2005 10:44 PM ET
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Maholm makes quick work of Reds
Pirates rookie tallies fourth quality start in four tries
By Ed Eagle / MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Paul Maholm is quietly showing that there is room for more than one rookie southpaw sensation in the Steel City.
Maholm, who has been overshadowed somewhat by the meteoric rise of teammate Zach Duke, tossed eight shutout innings for the second time in four big-league starts in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 4-0 win against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on Saturday.
Belying his lack of experience, Maholm mowed through the Reds lineup by smartly complementing his fastball with an assortment of offspeed pitches.
"I was mixing it up, getting ahead and using both breaking balls," said Maholm. "I was pretty confident in all of my pitches tonight."
"He had everything going," said Pirates interim manager Pete Mackanin. "They were off balance. He cruised the whole way. It was a very impressive performance."
On the rare occasion that Cincinnati was able to string together any of its four hits and four walks, Maholm once again displayed poise while working his way out of a jam.
With runners at first and third base after one out in the third inning, Maholm got All-Star Felipe Lopez to ground to third baseman Rob Mackowiak, who smartly threw home to nail Edwin Encarnacion. It was as close as a Cincinnati baserunner would get to the plate all night.
An inning later, the Reds put runners at first and second base to begin the frame before Maholm induced Wily Mo Pena to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Javier Valentin grounded out to second base a batter later to end the threat.
"I think if I had given up a couple of runs early it could have been a whole different game," said Maholm. "I got my ground balls and I got out of it."
Although Maholm retired 10 of the last 12 batters he faced, he accumulated 112 pitches after eight innings. Much to the chagrin of the 31,174 home faithful on hand, Mackanin chose not to send the rookie back out for a shot at his first shutout.
"We wouldn't want him to go past 120 pitches," said Mackanin. "I would have loved to have sent him out to get a complete game, but it would have put him past that threshold and I'm not willing to do that."
Maholm (2-0), who earned the first win by a Pirates starter since he tossed eight shutout innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 30 in his Major League debut, is making a strong case for his inclusion in the 2006 starting rotation. He has allowed two runs or less and pitched into at least the seventh inning in each of his four big-league starts.
"Right now, it's kind of a tryout for me," said Maholm. "I'm just trying to state my case to stay here for a long time."
The potential of excellence for Maholm, Duke and fellow lefty Oliver Perez has not been overlooked by Pirates opponents.
"Honestly, they've got three good, young pitchers to build with," Reds interim manager Jerry Narron said of the Pirates. "And we're talking about Maholm, Duke and Perez. Maholm and Duke are definitely big-league pitchers, and we all know how good Oliver Perez is."
As Maholm held the Reds in check, Pirates All-Star Jason Bay continued his outstanding season at the plate. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year took Reds starter Aaron Harang deep in the first inning for his 30th home run of the season. Bay also drilled an RBI single in the third inning, and nearly drove in another run with a single in the fifth inning, but Maholm was cut down on a play at the plate.
"A couple of months ago, I was for 25 [home runs]," said Bay. "Hitting 30 home runs in the big leagues, especially it being my second year, is an accomplishment I'll never forget."
Bay, the Pirates' leader in every significant offensive category this season, has put on a one-man crusade to abolish the term "sophomore slump." He is a perfect 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts and is one steal shy of becoming the first Pirates player since Barry Bonds in 1992 to have at least 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season.
"I told you guys that [the sophomore slump] wasn't a real entity," Bay said, smiling.
Pirates closer du jour Salomon Torres pitched a scoreless ninth inning to give the Bucs their 13th shutout of the season.
Harang (10-13) was charged with four runs on seven hits in six innings. The Reds have scored three runs or less in 11 of Harang's 13 losses.
The two teams will wrap up their season series Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.
Box >
Maholm makes quick work of Reds
Pirates rookie tallies fourth quality start in four tries
By Ed Eagle / MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Paul Maholm is quietly showing that there is room for more than one rookie southpaw sensation in the Steel City.
Maholm, who has been overshadowed somewhat by the meteoric rise of teammate Zach Duke, tossed eight shutout innings for the second time in four big-league starts in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 4-0 win against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on Saturday.
Belying his lack of experience, Maholm mowed through the Reds lineup by smartly complementing his fastball with an assortment of offspeed pitches.
"I was mixing it up, getting ahead and using both breaking balls," said Maholm. "I was pretty confident in all of my pitches tonight."
"He had everything going," said Pirates interim manager Pete Mackanin. "They were off balance. He cruised the whole way. It was a very impressive performance."
On the rare occasion that Cincinnati was able to string together any of its four hits and four walks, Maholm once again displayed poise while working his way out of a jam.
With runners at first and third base after one out in the third inning, Maholm got All-Star Felipe Lopez to ground to third baseman Rob Mackowiak, who smartly threw home to nail Edwin Encarnacion. It was as close as a Cincinnati baserunner would get to the plate all night.
An inning later, the Reds put runners at first and second base to begin the frame before Maholm induced Wily Mo Pena to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Javier Valentin grounded out to second base a batter later to end the threat.
"I think if I had given up a couple of runs early it could have been a whole different game," said Maholm. "I got my ground balls and I got out of it."
Although Maholm retired 10 of the last 12 batters he faced, he accumulated 112 pitches after eight innings. Much to the chagrin of the 31,174 home faithful on hand, Mackanin chose not to send the rookie back out for a shot at his first shutout.
"We wouldn't want him to go past 120 pitches," said Mackanin. "I would have loved to have sent him out to get a complete game, but it would have put him past that threshold and I'm not willing to do that."
Maholm (2-0), who earned the first win by a Pirates starter since he tossed eight shutout innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 30 in his Major League debut, is making a strong case for his inclusion in the 2006 starting rotation. He has allowed two runs or less and pitched into at least the seventh inning in each of his four big-league starts.
"Right now, it's kind of a tryout for me," said Maholm. "I'm just trying to state my case to stay here for a long time."
The potential of excellence for Maholm, Duke and fellow lefty Oliver Perez has not been overlooked by Pirates opponents.
"Honestly, they've got three good, young pitchers to build with," Reds interim manager Jerry Narron said of the Pirates. "And we're talking about Maholm, Duke and Perez. Maholm and Duke are definitely big-league pitchers, and we all know how good Oliver Perez is."
As Maholm held the Reds in check, Pirates All-Star Jason Bay continued his outstanding season at the plate. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year took Reds starter Aaron Harang deep in the first inning for his 30th home run of the season. Bay also drilled an RBI single in the third inning, and nearly drove in another run with a single in the fifth inning, but Maholm was cut down on a play at the plate.
"A couple of months ago, I was for 25 [home runs]," said Bay. "Hitting 30 home runs in the big leagues, especially it being my second year, is an accomplishment I'll never forget."
Bay, the Pirates' leader in every significant offensive category this season, has put on a one-man crusade to abolish the term "sophomore slump." He is a perfect 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts and is one steal shy of becoming the first Pirates player since Barry Bonds in 1992 to have at least 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season.
"I told you guys that [the sophomore slump] wasn't a real entity," Bay said, smiling.
Pirates closer du jour Salomon Torres pitched a scoreless ninth inning to give the Bucs their 13th shutout of the season.
Harang (10-13) was charged with four runs on seven hits in six innings. The Reds have scored three runs or less in 11 of Harang's 13 losses.
The two teams will wrap up their season series Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.