PHILADELPHIA — Jameson Taillon didn't want to take the bait. When asked if the shortest start of his major league career was the product of bad luck, the Pirates' starting pitcher quickly pointed the blame at himself. He didn't want to use a misplayed bunt or the fact he was potentially one pitch away from salvaging his night to justify the result.
"That's on me," Taillon said solemnly after he lasted only 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on four hits in the Pirates' 7-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday night. Taillon, among the league leaders in ERA and WHIP entering the game, had emerged as one of the top young starters in the majors and seemed destined to become the ace of the rotation.
Taillon, though, saw firsthand what it takes to achieve such a status. The opposing starter, Jake Arrieta, a longtime nemesis of the Pirates and a former Cy Young winner, pitched seven shutout innings for the Phillies, striking out 10 of the 24 batters he faced, and allowed only one hit — an infield single.
It was Arrieta's 14th career double-digit strikeout game and his 17th consecutive start allowing fewer than four runs.
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