David Price, R.A. Dickey, Matt Cain, Stephen Strasburg and Cole Hamels, all acres in their respective rotations, took to the mound on Sunday. All struggled mightily. Time will tell of yesterday was an anomaly or the start of a trend. To be fair not all aces had a bad day. Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox was strong for the second straight start, James Shields delivered a workmanlike performance for Kansas City and Johnny Cueto was solid for Cincinnati, but Jered Weaver just missed making this list giving up five runs of his own in five innings against the Rangers.
Let’s take a look at what went on in Sunday’s games.
David Price surrendered eight runs, 10 hits and three walks in five innings against Cleveland. Price previously had been 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his career against the Indians. Price left trailing 8-0. This follows his opening day when he got a no-decision giving up two runs and seven hits over six innings in Tampa Bay’s 7-4 loss to Baltimore. It was only the second time that Price had given up eight or more runs in a game. “I’ve got to get out of my own way,” Price said. ”
The Boston Red Sox scored five runs off Toronto starter R.A. Dickey in the first inning on Sunday and never looked back. Dickey allowed eight runs total, seven earned and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. The five first-inning runs allowed by Dickey matched the amount he gave up in the first inning in all of 2012, when he made 33 starts.
Dickey seemed philosophical about the outing. “Throughout the course of the season you’re going to have a clunker or two,” Dickey said. “You just have to try and forget it as soon as you can. Obviously today was one of those days for me.” Dickey’s next start will be in Kansas City against James Shields.
Matt Cain turned in one of the most dominant pitching performances in baseball history last year when he pitched a perfect game. If ever there was a polar opposite to that performance, it was Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.. Cain became the first Giants pitcher to allow nine runs in an inning since 1902.
Cain started off retiring the first nine batters, then gave up seven hits and getting just two outs in the fourth inning and his day was finished after 66 pitches. “I wasn’t as sharp as I was, for some reason, for the first three innings and it just kind of fell apart,” Cain said. “I don’t know that they changed anything. I just started making some bad pitches and they put good swings together.” Cain will start next against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley field.
Stephen Strasburg entered Sunday’s matchup with Cincinnati fresh off an impressive opening day start where he allowed just three hits over seven innings of work over the Miami Marlins. The Reds had other ideas, Strasburg gave up nine hits and six runs with four walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He threw 114 pitches, 73 for strikes.
“Something was going on when I was in the stretch. They seemed to take better swings,” Strasburg said. “I have to look at the video and see what I’m doing out there. Some days you’re going to give up a lot of singles. They came up with some clutch hits. You have to tip your cap and keep on going.” Strasburg will take on Atlanta at home next Saturday.
Cole Hamels was matched up with Kansas City Royals ace James Shields on Sunday. Hamels struggled for the second straight start giving up eight runs on nine hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. he walked two. The two-time All-Star has a 10.97 ERA after two starts in 2013.
“You have to get ahead of hitters, you have to make them uncomfortable and you have to get them out,” Hamels said. “I obviously wasn’t able to do that. . I feel good. I definitely have good feel with all of my pitches. Unfortunately, it’s not showing.” Hamels Give us a chance at the weak hitting Miami Marlins on Saturday against Marlins prospect Jose Fernandez.
To early to be concerned? Probably. Worth keeping an eye on? Absolutely.
