WASHINGTON -- When you're 26 and finally making your debut in Major League Baseball after eight seasons in the minors, the expectations aren't typically great.
But the Pirates have always been high on Nick Kingham. He just couldn't always deliver because of a myriad of injuries throughout his minor league career, most notably a UCL tear that required Tommy John surgery in 2015.
Kingham, however, remained patient and when he finally got that shot for his first start Sunday against St. Louis, he made the most of it, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning before allowing a hit after 6 2/3 innings. He was pulled after the seventh in the Pirates' 5-0 win that finished off a sweep of the Cardinals and Kingham told me Tuesday he's finally come down off that high.
"Oh, man, yeah," he said prior to the Pirates' game Tuesday against the Nationals. "I took it all in yesterday morning. I woke up, replied to all 180 (texts) and once that was done, I knew it was time to put it in my past and look forward to the next one."
The next one to which Kingham referred will come Friday in the opening game of a three-game series in Milwaukee. Clint Hurdle said Kingham's debut earned him an extra start, "but there are no promises after that." Lefty Steven Brault bumps to the bullpen, for now.
With Joe Musgrove throwing a rehab start for Class A Bradenton Tuesday night, he could soon be ready for a return to the Pirates if he shows he's recovered from the shoulder issues that have sidelined him.
But, if Kingham has another strong start, Hurdle could be left with some interesting decisions to make. Kingham wants to make it as difficult a decision as he can after spending nine seasons in the minors. That's a long time for a guy once considered a top-100 prospect prior to his arm injury.
"I learned to trust my stuff," he told DKPittsburghSports.com of that first start. "If something's working, don't try to throw another pitch. If something's working, stick with it. Trevor (Williams) told me yesterday, 'If you're catching fish with one bait, why would you switch to a different kind of bait to catch the same fish?' That's an awesome analogy and it makes sense. Until they make an adjustment, it's time for me to make my next adjustment. That's kind of how I went about it."
It worked. And he'll take that same mentality into the start against the Brewers, though it might be a little much to ask for him to get through six perfect innings again.
When did he realize he was shutting down the Cardinals to that extent?
"Middle of the fourth inning. I realized I was seeing the same guys in order and I hadn't pitched from the stretch, so it was on my mind with every pitch," Kingham said.
And the feeling once he got through the seventh inning with just one baserunner was one of relief -- and joy.
It was the kind of debut most only dream about.
"Now that I've had time, it was like, 'Dang, I was so close,'" he said. "But I can't complain about it. Coming off the mound, having the kind of outing I did, I was on Cloud 9. It was awesome. It made me feel like a big leaguer."
HARPER LEADING OFF
With slugger Bryce Harper leading the majors in intentional walks -- including two by the Pirates Monday night in Game 1 of this series -- Washington manager Dave Martinez came up with an interesting plan. He moved Harper to leadoff instead of his usual third spot in the order, batting him ahead of shortstop Trea Turner, who had three hits Monday night and is one of the few Washington regulars hitting more than .260.
"I guess that means we won't intentionally walk him in the first inning," Hurdle quipped.
It's been an ongoing issue for the Nationals, who are playing without several regulars, including slugger Anthony Rendon, who offers Harper some protection when healthy.
Harper has been walked 38 times in Washington's first 29 games, including eight intentionally. He's not quite up to Barry Bonds' 2004 season, when he walked a ridiculous 242 times -- 120 of which were intentional -- but he's getting frustrated.
“They’re walking him,” Martinez said Monday night, “and he’s a little frustrated, but I told him, I said, ‘Hey, take your walks.’ I mean take your walks, try to stay on the ball, you know, he’s getting maybe one pitch to hit, and he said today, ‘I just keep fouling them off,’ and I said, ‘I know it’s frustrating, I do, but stay with it. Things will change. You’re a good hitter, you’re one of the best hitters in the game, so just stay with it.’”
Moving Harper to leadoff wasn't the lone lineup change made by Martinez. Pitcher Max Scherzer, a .250 hitter this season, is batting eighth ahead of third baseman Wilmer Difo, who entered Tuesday's game with a .233 average despite collecting two hits Monday night.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY
Longtime Pirates' pitching coach Ray Searage celebrates his 68th birthday today. He got hugs and congratulations walking through the clubhouse.
"We've gotten all kinds of presents for Ray," Hurdle said Tuesday.