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Andrew Abbott Throws Another Scoreless Gem in Second MLB Start

Former UVA pitcher Andrew Abbott has yet to give up a single run in his first 11.2 innings pitching in Major League Baseball

Matt Newton

Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

Two Major League Baseball starts, two scoreless gems for former Virginia pitcher Andrew Abbott. 

In 11 and 2/3 innings so far in the majors, Abbott has yet to give up a run, becoming the first Cincinnati Reds pitcher to begin his major league career with back-to-back scoreless starts with at least five innings pitched since since at least 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance from home plate, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Abbott made his second-career start on Saturday afternoon on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals and delivered another impressive performance, pitching 5.2 shutout innings while giving up five hits and three walks and striking out four batters. Behind Abbott's strong start, the Reds earned an 8-4 road win over the Cardinals, giving Abbott his second-career victory. 

Last weekend, Abbott was brought up from the minor leagues and made his Major League debut on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. The former UVA All-American and second-round MLB Draft pick pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just one hit, striking out six batters, and earning his first-career win in a 2-0 shutout victory for the Reds. Abbott's debut was spectacular on an historic level, becoming the first left-handed pitcher in the modern era of Major League Baseball to throw six or more shutout innings with at least six strikeouts while surrendering no more than one hit in his MLB debut, per Stats Perform. He also is the first Reds pitcher since 1893 to throw six scoreless innings of one-hit baseball in his MLB debut. 

Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor called Abbott after the game on Monday and also offered his congratulations in a Tweet. "Congrats to [Andrew Abbott] on an amazing start to your MLB career!" O'Connor wrote. "Only two years after helping lead the Cavaliers to Omaha. Andrew, you earned this opportunity and Wahoo Nation is proud of you!"

And with another strong outing on Saturday, Andrew Abbott's MLB career has gotten off to a remarkable start. 

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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