Jordan Hamm18 batters. Roughly 50 pitches.
The parameters were clear for Brandon Pfaadt heading into Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
The Diamondbacks were down in a 0-2 hole in the series, thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies jumping on established starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly in Games 1 & 2.
Having Pfaadt keep the Diamondbacks competitive was crucial to keeping their playoff hopes on life support.
Pfaadt did more than that.
I think knowing you are down by two games, you kind of go in like a must-win game. So you want it a little more I think.
“Going into today I think everybody kind of thought…we need to win this game to get back on track,” Pfaadt said. “Because we didn’t want to go down 3-0.”
In 5 2/3 innings, the rookie struck out nine and gave up just two hits. The Philadelphia team that put up double-digit runs just days ago, couldn’t touch Pfaadt on the way to a 2-1 Diamondback victory.
“Brandon was unbelievable,” Manager Torey Lovullo said. “Brandon threw the baseball as good as you possibly could have hoped or imagined. Once again, it’s a young kid stepping into a huge environment and executing at a very high level. That’s what stands out more than anything.”
But the parameters were in place.
That’s when Lovullo became very unpopular with the hometown crowd.
Pfaadt had hit the 18 batters. Kyle Schwarber, whom Pfaadt struck out twice previously, awaited on deck. Lovullo went to take out his starter.
It was a decision that wasn’t going to be popular, and it was discussed between Lovullo, pitching coach Brent Strom and bench coach Jeff Bannister.
“The conversations are very typical,” Lovullo said. “Am I an idiot if I take him out of the game with nine strikeouts at five and two-thirds? Those are the things that I’m asking.”
The boos were loud and they were powerful. It felt like the D-backs trailed by a dozen instead of a 0-0 game. The tune quickly changed to applaud Pfaadt on his incredible afternoon.
“At the end of the day who knows — woulda, coulda, shoulda,” Pfaadt said. “Bullpen did great. They’ve been doing great the whole postseason, so you can’t think that way in taking a starter out.
“Obviously I’m a competitor. I want to keep going. Everybody does, but at the end of the day you just have to trust his decision and move forward, go to the bullpen, let them do their jobs.”
Lovullo could have rode the hot hand in Pfaadt, and he had extended him to 70 pitches.
But if D-back fans know anything, it’s that the team’s manager doesn’t make a decision without going through his process.
It worked on Thursday. One of his decisions may not in the remainder of the series. That’s the life of a Major League manager.
“I am prepared to get booed,” Lovullo said. “I am prepared to get second-guessed. It’s my job. I sit in the seat, and that happens. I don’t mind it. We won a baseball game, and that’s all I care about.”
