Hawksworth struggles again with command, gives up four runs

Discussion in 'MLB General' started by truebluefan, May 20, 2010.

  1. truebluefan

    truebluefan Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    212,768
    Likes Received:
    821
    Trophy Points:
    113
    "It hasn't exactly been the sophomore season that pitcher Blake Hawksworth or the Cardinals had hoped for.

    After bursting onto the scene as a rookie out of the Cardinals bullpen a season ago, Hawksworth's struggles continued Wednesday night against the Marlins. The right-hander gave up four runs in two innings and took the loss in the Cardinals' 5-1 defeat to Florida at Busch Stadium.

    The right-hander's ERA climbed to 4.15 in 14 games this season after he allowed four runs on five hits and a walk to Florida. After starter Jaime Garcia left due to a high pitch count after five shutout innings, Hawksworth allowed two runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh as the Cardinals small two-game win streak.

    "Tough to swallow," Hawksworth said. "Not very good. It's got to get better, I know that. I've got to get the ball down. That's the bottom line. You pitch up in this league and they're going to put the ball in the air and you're going to get hurt by it.

    "The ball is up. Just have to iron out the kinks, put in the work and get the ball down."

    Hawksworth allowed two hits and then walked pitcher Anibal Sanchez to load the bases with no outs in the sixth before a sacrifice fly put the Marlins up 1-0. After a flyout to center moved the lead runner to third, a single up the middle off the bat of Hanley Ramirez made it 2-0.

    He then allowed solo home runs to Dan Uggla and Camerin Maybin in the seventh, matching his home run total for all of last season. The blasts put Hawksworth's total at four round-trippers in just 17 1/3 innings this season compared to two in 40 innings last year.

    "Mistakes," said manager Tony La Russa. "He walks the pitcher in a bunt situation, that's a mistake. An 0-2 breaking ball for a home run - he just made mistakes.

    "You've got to throw the ball over the plate. It turned out to be a big out to miss. But we scored one. We could have gotten beat 2-1, 3-1. It's a team loss.""

    http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/may/20/hawksworth-struggles-again-command-gives-four-runs/
     

Share This Page