Carmen Mlodzinski followed Mason Montgomery’s one-inning opener out of the bullpen to toss six scoreless innings on two hits, two walks, one hit-batter, and five strikeouts as the Pirates defeated the Nationals, 2-0, tonight at PNC Park.
The Pirates took advantage by using Montgomery to face the top of the order with two left-handed hitters.
"Then I thought Carmen came in and was really, really good tonight. It looked like everything was a little bit better synced up delivery-wise from Chicago," said Don Kelly. "It was in the zone. Stuff was electric. He was able to throw everything for strikes and then go for swing and miss too when he needed to."
Mlodzinski has now appeared in four games, allowing just four earned runs in 20 1/3 innings and no home runs. Kelly praised Mlodzinski for being a competitor and adjusting to the role tonight coming out of the bullpen.
"When we talked the other day, I think any starting pitcher would prefer to start the game and his mindset going into it was whatever we feel is best and gives us the best chance to win," said Kelly. "I think he showed that in the outing today."
Mlodzinski didn't feel like it was anything different than any other outing: "The reason was just to give me a better pocket and let Mason dominate lefties like he's done this year. Didn't really go in with a different mindset. Kind of same prep and first inning was kind of quick so I was able to kind of stay (on the schedule I had as a starter)."
Mlodzinski avoided the fourth inning or later appearance problems that have plagued him in the past, though he had to watch a 101-mph James Wood deep fly to the left field wall with two-runners on-base to keep it scoreless in the fifth inning. It would have been a home run in nine other ballparks.
"I need to be better against left-handed batters,” said Mlodzinski. "I want to progress as a pitcher and be able to handle both sides of the plate equally. Especially as a starting pitcher, it's super important. I don't want to just be a matchup based pitcher. Little bit of a reality check to be able to push forward and say I need to be better getting left-handed hitters out."
THE ASYLUM
Mlodzinski's stuff was 'electric'
Carmen Mlodzinski followed Mason Montgomery’s one-inning opener out of the bullpen to toss six scoreless innings on two hits, two walks, one hit-batter, and five strikeouts as the Pirates defeated the Nationals, 2-0, tonight at PNC Park.
The Pirates took advantage by using Montgomery to face the top of the order with two left-handed hitters.
"Then I thought Carmen came in and was really, really good tonight. It looked like everything was a little bit better synced up delivery-wise from Chicago," said Don Kelly. "It was in the zone. Stuff was electric. He was able to throw everything for strikes and then go for swing and miss too when he needed to."
Mlodzinski has now appeared in four games, allowing just four earned runs in 20 1/3 innings and no home runs. Kelly praised Mlodzinski for being a competitor and adjusting to the role tonight coming out of the bullpen.
"When we talked the other day, I think any starting pitcher would prefer to start the game and his mindset going into it was whatever we feel is best and gives us the best chance to win," said Kelly. "I think he showed that in the outing today."
Mlodzinski didn't feel like it was anything different than any other outing: "The reason was just to give me a better pocket and let Mason dominate lefties like he's done this year. Didn't really go in with a different mindset. Kind of same prep and first inning was kind of quick so I was able to kind of stay (on the schedule I had as a starter)."
Mlodzinski avoided the fourth inning or later appearance problems that have plagued him in the past, though he had to watch a 101-mph James Wood deep fly to the left field wall with two-runners on-base to keep it scoreless in the fifth inning. It would have been a home run in nine other ballparks.
"I need to be better against left-handed batters,” said Mlodzinski. "I want to progress as a pitcher and be able to handle both sides of the plate equally. Especially as a starting pitcher, it's super important. I don't want to just be a matchup based pitcher. Little bit of a reality check to be able to push forward and say I need to be better getting left-handed hitters out."
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