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For Phillies rookie Severino Gonzalez, his big league debut Tuesday night likely didn't go as he had planned.
In just 2 2/3 innings of work, Gonzalez was worked over pretty good by the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits and 2 walks with no strikeouts, good for a rather high ERA of 23.63.
And despite numerous attempts by the Phils offense to battle back against St. Louis starter Michael Wacha, the early hole dug by Gonzalez was simply too much to overcome as the Phillies fell to the Cards 11-5 in St. Louis.
So just how bad was Gonzalez' debut? Well, the worst in a while for a Phillie.
Severino Gonzalez is the first Phillies pitcher to give up 7 R in his debut since Rafael Quirico in 1996
— Paul Boyé (@paul_boye) April 29, 2015
Yes ladies and germs, THAT Rafael Quirico, in the memorable summer of 1996. Ah, summer days.
But take heart, Severino, it was not the worst big league debut in Major League history for a starter. Thanks to the ever-useful Play Index at Baseball Reference, the worst big league debut for a starter, in terms of ERA, belongs to Minnestoa's Travis Miller, who in August of 1996 gave up 7 earned runs on 5 hits, 2 walks and 2 home runs in one inning of work, good for an ERA of 63.00.
The most earned runs ever given up in a big league debut by a starter was 11, done by Arnie Munoz of the Chicago White Sox on June 19, 2004 against the Montreal Expos. He at least lasted three innings, though.
And in all, there had been 18 big league starting debuts since 1914 that lasted 2 2/3 innings or less heading into Gonzalez' start Tuesday night, so at least he isn't alone here. Chin up, kid.
Franzke - "You always want to remember your big league debut" LA - "Not this one"
— Franzke & LA (@FranzkeLA) April 29, 2015
Get 'em next time.
As for the game, not much to see here. We got to watch Jake Diekman give up two more runs in two innings of work in which he threw a mind-blowing 52 pitches, more proof manager Ryne Sandberg has no conscience whatsoever when it comes to overworking his pitchers.
Offensively, the Phillies scored five runs or more for the fifth time in 21 games this season, dropping their record to 3-2 in such games. Freddy Galvis continues to show a terrific approach at the plate, adding another three hits, raising his batting average to .368.
Another three-hit game for Freddy Galvis. That's five on the season. He entered play tied for second in NL in 3-hit games.
— Ryan Lawrence (@ryanlawrence21) April 29, 2015
Good thing Sandberg has him hitting in the 8-hole.
And while Ben Revere and Odubel Herrera combined to go 3-for-8 with a walk at the top of the lineup, Chase Utley continued to suffer from a mix of bad luck and bad hitting. He went 1-for-5 with 2 RBIs, and saw his average drop to .119, a number that could potentially cave in on itself if it isn't careful.
The Phillies now fall back into a tie for last place with the Washington Nationals in the NL East at 8-13. That's OK, though. I started to get vertigo living out of the basement.
Source: FanGraphs