Tony Watson (44) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals last September. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY
Sports
Tony Watson did something nearly impossible during his senior season of high school baseball.
The left-hander posted a 0.10 ERA for Dallas Center Grimes in Grimes, Iowa. That enabled him to win the Bob Feller Award as the top scholastic pitcher in Iowa and earn a scholarship to Nebraska.
Eleven years after that dominating performance, Watson was asked if he might better this season while working out of the Pirates’ bullpen. The questioner wasn’t completely joking.
“That would be awesome,” Watson said with a smile. “I don’t think it’s attainable, though.”
Highly doubtful, but it does seem forever since Watson allowed a run. It happened last Aug. 3 when the Rockies scored twice off him in 1/3 of an inning in a game at PNC Park.
Watson since has made 24 consecutive scoreless appearances covering 23 2/3 innings.
He retired all four batters he faced, striking out three, to get the win Sunday against the Cardinals at PNC Park. The Pirates return to action Tuesday night after having Monday off and play the Cubs in Chicago in the first game of a three-game series.
The only pitcher with a longer streak than Watson going into Monday’s action was Cardinals left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist, who had been unscored upon in 27 1/3 straight innings.
Watson does not have an especially detailed answer for his success. He prefers to simplify things.
“I just try to keep the same routine and same approach,” the 28-year-old said.
Watson has pitched in 181 games for the Pirates since being called up in 2011 and compiled a fine 3.05 ERA. He has given up just 122 hits in 169 1/3 innings with 56 walks and 150 strikeouts.
“He’s one of the guys we’ve counted on since he’s been here and he’s been nothing but consistent,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s one of those guys that everyone wants to talk about in trades. We think he’s a special guy and so do a lot of other people within the industry.”
In fact, he and hard-throwing Justin Wilson combine to make such a strong duo of left-handed relievers that the Pirates won’t part with either one. Wilson has held opposing batters to 61 hits in 80 1/3 innings with a .211 batting average against and a .585 OPS allowing since coming to the major leagues late in the 2012 season.
“You don’t find many left-handed relievers like that,” Hurdle said. “We’re glad we have them.”
And they aren’t going anywhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment