A day after defeating the Chicago Cubs and extending their winning streak to three games, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Jerad Eickhoff to the mound with hopes of making it four straight. Things did not go well. In fact, they went historically bad.
Eickhoff was shelled in his first-ever outing with Pittsburgh. He surrendered 10 hits and issued four walks. Eickhoff also allowed 10 runs (all earned) in 4 1/3 innings of work. The 10 earned runs are a record for a pitcher making his debut for the Pirates — a franchise whose history dates back to 1882.
Jerad Eickhoff is the first player in Pirates history to give up 10 ER in his first start for the team. pic.twitter.com/kLnmsveviM
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 23, 2022
As bad as that is for Eickhoff, it gets worse.
Wednesday was not only Eickhoff’s debut for the Pirates, but was his first start since July 27, 2021 as a member of the New York Mets. In that outing, he lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowed 10 hits, walked five, and allowed 10 earned runs.
No pitcher has allowed 10 earned runs in consecutive starts in more than 80 years.
Jerad Eickhoff is the first pitcher to allow 10 ER in consecutive starts since Chubby Dean in 1940. https://t.co/uQdBJejik5
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 23, 2022
That futility was a topic of conversation among baseball fans when Eickhoff’s outing on Wednesday came to its merciful end.
Jared Eickhoff. The human rally starter. I told you. Trust my predictions.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) June 22, 2022
Jared Eickhoff being on a major league roster should be a war crime
— Donald Butcher (@TheDonButcher) June 22, 2022
This Eickhoff guy seems good. Said no one.
— eddieshack (@Rlblack1Rob) June 23, 2022
Eickhoff getting the job done tonight pic.twitter.com/Vxk3qhGH6p
— NS9 (@NorthShoreNine) June 22, 2022
When the Pirates defeated the Cubs on Tuesday, their social media time enjoyed the victory in hilariously petty fashion.
But the Pittsburgh social media team has not been above a self-troll during the 2022 season. We’re guessing another one of those might be in order when this game ends.
