In First 2013 Start, Gerrit Cole Chased After Four Innings

Gerrit Cole warms up in the McKechnie Field outfield.

That sigh of relief from the Pittsburgh Pirates offices tonight?  Gerrit Cole didn’t mow down the Columbus Clippers in his 2013 Triple-A debut.   Well through three innings, he was rather sharp, just not the fourth inning.

The big right-hander allowed just one hit through the first three innings of work in Indianapolis.  Cole gave up no runs, no walks, and had a strikeout while being quite efficient as he threw 32 pitches with 21 of those pitches going for strikes through three.

But in the fourth inning, the Bucs hopeful ace of the future was hit around giving up four hits and three earned runs.  The final line in his first start for the Tribe ended up being four innings pitched, five hits, three runs allowed–all earned, with no walks and two strikeouts.

Cole threw 63 pitches, with 32 of them coming in his rough fourth inning against the Clippers.  The first-round pick of the Pirates recorded three ground ball outs and five flyball outs.

In the fouth inning, singles were sandwiched around flyouts, but Cole couldn’t finish the job.   After getting ahead 0-2 on Mike McDade, Cole gave up a two-run scoring double on a full count.   A Juan Diaz single followed which chased McDade home for the third run of the game allowed by Cole.  A strikeout ended the fourth and that was it for Cole.

Sort of seemed like an ambush, huh?

Gameday