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Bucs’ McDonald gets first victory
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher James McDonald delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 27, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
James McDonald had a reason to celebrate for the first time this season. Madison Bumgarner is still waiting his turn.
McDonald pitched six sharp innings Wednesday night for his first victory of the season, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 2-0.
He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out three. McDonald (1-2) lowered his ERA to 7.66 from 10.13.
“It feels like I got a monkey off my back with the first win,” McDonald said. “I feel a little less stress now.”
Bumgarner (0-4) remained winless despite allowing only one run and five hits in six innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. He cut his ERA to 6.17 from 7.79, but the Giants lost for the fifth time in six games to fall below .500 at 11-12.
“I thought Madison did a great job,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “He kept his poise and stayed away from the crooked number that has killed him. It’s tough to not get runs for him. It’d be big to get him his first win.”
Mike Crotta, Joe Beimel, Chris Resop and Joel Hanrahan completed the five-hitter for Pittsburgh. Hanrahan recorded his seventh save in seven opportunities, getting Miguel Tejada to ground into a game-ending double play with runners on first and second.
McDonald was tagged for eight runs in three innings at Florida in his previous start six days earlier. Pirates catcher Chris Snyder said the difference this time was that McDonald didn’t rely as much on his fastball and threw more curveballs and changeups.
“He mixed it up really well,” Snyder said. “He needed that start. He needed to get something going, something to give him confidence.”
McDonald also got his ERA back into three digits after allowing 21 earned runs in 182/3 innings in his first four starts.
However, against the Giants, McDonald looked more like the pitcher who went 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 11 starts last season after being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trading deadline.