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Pirates get twinbill help

By John Mehno

For the Mirror

PITTSBURGH — Clay Holmes gets another chance to start a major league game today.

Holmes is slated to pitch the second game of the Pirates’ doubleheader this afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers.

His first start was rocky, to say the least. He started in Los Angeles on July 4 and lasted just 2-plus innings, throwing 64 pitches. He gave up five hits, four runs and walked three while striking out two.

The 6-foot-5 righthander went back to the minor leagues after that game, and his work at Class AAA Indianapolis and Class A Bradenton earned him today’s second chance.

“The performance in Indy was lights out,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “So what’s next? You want to find out how does that equate and what does it translate to up here?”

Holmes will face another formidable lineup. Before the start in Los Angeles, he had made two other major league appearances, pitching two innings in each game. He allowed two runs to Cincinnati and shut out Arizona in the other game.

Hurdle maintained the start against the Dodgers wasn’t a complete failure.

“The fastball was legit,” he said. “Command of the secondary pitches probably wasn’t what he was capable of or what he was hoping for. He went down (to the minor leagues) and sharpened up.”

After Holmes went back to the minor leagues, he pitched five times and had a 0.86 earned run average over 31-plus innings. His WHIP was 0.96.

“I think he really walked away from the outing in (Los Angeles) with some good stuff to hunt and some areas that brought immediate attention to where he can improve,” Hurdle said. “It was a really good opportunity for him to get on a major league mound, 53,000 people. Big crowd. Good lineup.”

Teams are allowed to add a 26th player for a doubleheader, so the Pirates can bring up Holmes without deleting anyone from the roster.

Unconventional journey

Hurdle praised Friday’s starter, Nick Kingham, for the way he’s handled bouncing between the majors and minors as the Pirates’ sixth starting pitcher.

“I don’t think I’ve had a pitcher who has gone through the logistical challenges he’s gone through to maintain stability and days pitching,” Hurdle said. “It’s been very impressive, the way he’s handled it.”

Hurdle thinks that professional attitude is rooted in something Jameson Taillon told Kingham before his major league debut.

“He said, ‘You’re a major league pitcher now. Pitch like a major leaguer wherever you go,'” Hurdle said. “I think (Kingham) has represented that very well. I can’t imagine every pitcher could handle that as well as Nick has.”

Extra help

Hurdle said starter Trevor Williams would be available to pitch out of the bullpen Sunday “if necessary.”

Williams won’t start again before the All-Star break.

Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com

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