A second shot at majors
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Phil Dumatrait hopes his second shot in the major leagues is more successful than his first.
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed the left-handed pitcher off waivers in October after he had a miserable first taste of the majors with Cincinnati, where he went 0-4 with a 15.00 ERA in six starts.
Dumatrait also tied a dubious major league record on Sept. 9 in a loss to Milwaukee when gave up home runs to the first three batters of the game — Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun.
"My buddies ragged me about that home run thing a little bit over the winter," Dumatrait said. "I just asked them if they had ever pitched in the major leagues."
In his two starts this spring, he has allowed only one run in five innings.
On Tuesday, he gave up one run and four hits in three innings of a 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He pitched two scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 28 in the Pirates' exhibition opener.
"I think he's done fine," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He was a little better his first time out, but I like what I've seen from him."
Dumatrait, 26, went 10-6 with a 3.53 ERA in 22 starts with AAA Louisville last year. However, his six outings in the major leagues with the Reds were disastrous, something he attributes to nerves.
"I left a lot of pitches up in the strike zone because I was trying too hard and was overthrowing my pitches," Dumatrait said.
Dumatrait's work, however, might not be enough to land him a spot in the Pirates starting rotation. They already seem to have their five starters set with left-handers Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke, and right-handers Ian Snell and Matt Morris.
"I just want to make the team," Dumatrait said. "I don't care if it is as a relief pitcher. Hopefully, I'm giving (Pirates management) something to think about so far."
