Tonight wasn't exactly the major-league debut Thomas Harrington had in mind as the Rays got on him early and the Pirates fell, 7-0, here at George M. Steinbrenner Field for their fourth straight loss.

Harrington, who arrived this morning, worked four innings, allowed seven hits, six earned runs and four walks, and struck out two while throwing 90 pitches and 54 strikes. He was good at times but his first inning was the deciding factor. 

Yandy Diaz cranked Harrington's first pitch of the night, a 92-mph fastball in the bottom left corner of the zone, into left for a single, and Brandon Lowe followed by drawing a seven-pitch walk after fouling off two 3-2 pitches.

Harrington got his first when Junior Caminero flew out to center. However, as happened Monday, Jake Mangum, 7 for 8 in these two games, doubled into left to score both runners. Mangum then scored on a Kameron Misner single into center.

"I really wish I could have that first inning back," Harrington said. "I felt like I kinda got dialed in a little bit after the first inning, but yeah, I would like to take that one back." 

Here's Harrington's full media availability:

As the Pirates' No. 3 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, Harrington has carved his own path. He doesn't have a lot of velocity like Bubba Chandler, nor sharp breaking balls like Braxton Ashcraft. He's a control pitcher who changes speeds and relies on location, and that was something that he didn't always have tonight. He walked four hitters, something he hasn't done often in his professional career. He didn't record more than two walks in any of his 22 appearances between Class AA and Class AAA last season. He did walk three hitters during five different outings in 2023, his first in the minors.

"I think you saw in the first inning, he got sped up a little bit, a little bit of jitters, he settled back down," Derek Shelton said. "I think the one thing that we know about Tommy is he has the ability to execute his breaking balls and the changeup and today it just looked like he didn’t have it. That happens sometimes in your first start but we know he’s got good stuff, just need to settle him down and make sure he gets in the zone."

Harrington's expression when made aware of the statistic said it all. He knew his control wasn't where it needed to be. But, after that first inning, he settled in a little bit. It took just 12 pitches to work through the second, as he gave up a line drive to Lowe but also induced three ground ball outs.

The Rays tagged Harrington for another run in the third as a stolen base, walk and wild pitch put Mangum in position to score on a sacrifice fly by Misner.

"I think I learned that I just gotta execute a little bit better," Harrington said. "I put myself in some good counts, didn't execute and got hurt from it. These guys are really good hitters. I'll learn from it and get better next time." 

Tampa Bay scored two more in the fourth as Lowe smashed a 1-0 fastball up in the zone over the fence in right.

"The big leagues is hard, and you have to slow yourself down. I think that’s the conversation that a lot of guys in our dugout will have with him," Shelton said before citing what Harrington might learn from Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, Bailey Falter and Andrew Heaney. "Mitch, Jonesy is sitting down and has just gone through it and Bailey and Heaney. So, he’ll get that feedback from those guys, which is important. And there’s nothing like playing in the big leagues, pitching in the big leagues and being able to slow it down."