Pirates’ pitching trio pulled off quite a feat
Gerrit Cole, A.J. Burnett and Francisco Liriano pulled off quite a feat last weekend when each had double-digit strikeout games in the Pirates’ three-game series sweep of the New York Mets at PNC Park.
It was just the third time since 1914 — the first season in which records are available — that Pirates starting pitchers had 10 or more strikeouts in three consecutive games.
So who holds the Pirates’ record for most double-digit strikeouts in a career?
It is Bob Veale with 34 from 1962-72.
And nobody is even close, fitting since the great Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince insisted Veale “could throw a strawberry through a locomotive.”
Second on the list is Oliver Perez, who had 11 from 2003-06.
Liriano, Dock Ellis (1968-75, 1979) and Jose DeLeon (1983-86) each have eight. John Candelaria (1975-85, 1993) and Bob Moose (1967-76) are tied for fifth place with seven.
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Burnett’s club-record streak of 12 straight starts of allowing two earned runs or fewer ended Thursday night at San Diego when he gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in an 11-5 victory over the Padres.
Burnett’s streak included his final three starts of the 2013 season and his first nine starts this year.
He spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Burnert is just one of six Pirates pitchers to have a double-digit streak since at least 1914, joining Bob Walk, who had an 11-gamer from 1987-88, and four who had 10 in a row — Wilbur Cooper (1914), Red Witt (1958), Ellis (1971) and Kip Wells (2004).
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Here is a stat to clip and save — or perhaps cut and paste in this digital era — until July.
Washington Nationals phenom right fielder Bryce Harper has now hit a home run in every National League ballpark but PNC Park. The 22-year-old is just a career .182 hitter with one double in six games and 23 plate appearances in Pittsburgh.
The Nationals visit PNC Park for a four-game series from July 23-26.