Monday, June 1, 2015

2015: COMPLETE GAMES #19, #20, #21

Three more CGs, one on each of the three previous days...

--Mark Buehrle (5/29), tying his Toronto teammate R.A. Dickey for the most runs allowed (four) in a winning CG in 2015, in a 6-4 Blue Jay win over the mighty Twins, 6-4. It was Mark's second CG of the year--the earlier one being a loss to the over-the-moon Astros on 5/17.

--Dallas Keuchel (5/30), becoming the first pitcher in 2015 to throw back-to-back CGs, following Buehrle's pattern of loss-win, throwing an eleven-strikeout, four-hit shutout at the White Sox in a 3-0 Houston win.

--John Danks (5/31), doing something that is increasingly rare, throwing a 10-hit shutout as the up-and-down White Sox righty returned the favor to the Astros in a 6-0 Pale Hose win. Last year there was only CG where a pitcher allowed 10 hits or more (Cliff Lee); there was only one in 2013 and 2012 as well, two in 2011. You have to go back to 2010 before you need more than the fingers on one hand to count them. Danks also reversed a trend in which the last six such games resulted in losses. From 2008 to the present day, pitchers with CGs in which they allow 10 hits or more have a record of 8-16.

Danks walked a tightrope to bring home this shutout--he allowed three doubles and a triple and still managed not to allow a run.

There were 15 CGs in May (not counting those four "shorties" we discussed earlier...) and if that pace were maintained over the remaining four months of the season, we would wind up with a total around 80.