Just For Starters: Shane McClanahan Gets Hurt By 3-Run Homer
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Shane McClanahan pitched well for Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, but a little streak of wildness and then an ensuing home run got him in trouble.
For the second straight night, a Rays starter allowed two walks and then gave up a three-run homer to the next batter. It happened to Tommy Romero Tuesday night, and then again to McClanahan on Wednesday, and this time it was Oakland catcher Sean Murphy who did the damage.
McClanahan pitched 4 2/3 innings and left the game trailing 3-1.
Here's our daily "Just For Starters'' segment, which we do in real time once the starter leaves, even in the second inning. We'll update it again after the game. Here's what Romero did on Tuesday:
Rays' Starters By The Numbers
- Starter: Shane McClanahan
- Game: Wednesday vs. Oakland A's
- Decision: Lost, now 0-1 on the season
- Team result: Lost 4-2, now 4-2 on the season.
- Innings pitched: 4 2/3
- Total pitches: 85
- Strikes: 55
- Runs allowed: 3
- Earned runs: 3
- Hits allowed: 2
- Walks allowed: 3
- Total HBP allowed: 0
- Total strikeouts: 8
- Status upon departure: McClanahan left with two out and no one in in the fifth. He retired the last six batters he faced.
- The skinny: For the second straight night, a Rays starter got in trouble with a couple of walks and then allowed a three-run homer. As much as the homer hurts, the walks multiplied the pain. McClanahan got tagged by Sean Murphy, giving the A's a 3-0 lead in the third. McClanahan's eight strikeouts were a season high for the Rays.
Season Totals for Rays Starters
- Starters: Shane McClanahan (2), Drew Rasmussen, Corey Kluber, Luis Patino, Tommy Romero
- Games: 6
- Decisions: 0-2 thru Wednesday
- Team result: 4-2 thru Wednesday
- Innings pitched (avg): 20.0/3.33
- - Season high innings: 4 2/3, Corey Kluber (April 10), McClanahan (April 13)
- - Season low innings: 2/3, Luis Patino (April 11)
- Total pitches (avg.): 376/62.7
- - Season high pitches: 87, Corey Kluber (April 10)
- - Season low pitches: 13, Luis Patino (April 11)
- Strikes (avg.): 232/38.6
- Total strikeouts (avg): 24/4.0
- - Season high strikeouts: 8, Shane McClanahan (April 13)
- Runs allowed (avg): 9/1.5
- Earned runs (avg): 9/1.5
- Hits allowed (avg): 15/2.5
- Walks allowed (avg): 15/2.5
- Total HBP allowed (avg): 2/0.3
- Starter ERA: 4:05
Tom Brew is the publisher of Inside The Rays, and has been with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation network for three years. He is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his four-decade career at the Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has written four books.