After an 8-22 month in August, the Pirates opened September with another embarrassing loss, falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 at PNC Park. The Pirates were down 6-1, before scoring three runs in the 9th, to make the game look closer than it really was.
Journeyman lefthander Dana Eveland (1-0) shutdown the Pirates, giving up one run and six hits in his first start of the season and first major league game since pitching for the Pirates on June 23, 2010 against the Texas Rangers.
Eveland was promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque before the game and went on to pitch 8 strong innings, including 6 scoreless innings after giving up his only run in the second inning on a Josh Harrison grounder that scored Ryan Doumit.
Eveland is the same pitcher who lasted just 1 start (3 GP, 9.2 innings) with the Pirates last season, posting an 8.38 ERA before being designated for assignment.
Eveland is best remembered for the ridiculous statement GM Neal Huntington made about Eveland on the team’s press release when they acquired Eveland: “Dana Eveland is a 26-year-old left hander who has shown the ability to be an effective major-league starting pitcher. He has an interesting four-pitch mix and we feel this acquisition is a potential upgrade for our current rotation with the upside of years of control and improved production, ” Huntington said at the time.
The Pirates have fallen to 62-75 on the season and reaching 70 wins could be a struggle. For the Pirates to finish above .500, they would have to go 19-6. They currently have the 10th worst record in the majors and appeared destined for another top-10 pick next season.
