Sweltering heat shortens Bauer's start for Arizona
Precocious right-hander Trevor Bauer bobbed and weaved through his major-league debut Thursday, getting in and mostly out of trouble in his four innings of work in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 3-2 victory over Atlanta, a game Chris Young won with a home run in the top of the ninth inning.
Bauer, the third player taken in the 2011 draft, gave up two runs, five hits and three walks before leaving for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning. He threw 74 pitches in the sweltering 97-degree heat of Turner Field.
Bauer, 21, walked three and hit one in a 30-pitch third inning, when Atlanta broke a scoreless tie on a double by Brian McCann. Bauer got out of a two-out, bases-loaded situation by getting Freddie Freeman on a fly out. The Braves took a 2-0 lead on a double, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly in the fourth, Bauer's last inning.
"He started out throwing good. He had trouble walking guys," manager Kirk Gibson said. "He was on the field a long time. There was a lot of sweating. He had a little cramp in his leg, and we're going to be careful with that. He'll make his next start."
If the D-backs stay in turn, Bauer would make his next start July 3. Joe Saunders is eligible to come off the disabled list July 2, but it is not known whether he will be ready to return from shoulder inflammation.
Pitching coach Charlie Nagy and trainer P.J. Mainville visited the mound after Bauer threw a 1-0 pitch to Jason Heyward after walking Michael Bourn in the third inning, but Bauer remained in the game.
"I thought I saw him spin off," Gibson said. "I thought it was a groin. He (Bauer) said he was fine."
Left-hander Patrick Corbin, who replaced Bauer in the fifth, had an easier outing, giving up only one single while throwing 40 pitches, 29 strikes.
As usual, Bauer began his pregame workout about 90 minutes before his start, going through his typical routine that concludes with long toss from foul pole to foul pole. Bauer, the first player from the 2011 draft to appear in the major leagues, was 11-1 with a 2.23 ERA in 16 minor-league starts.
