Tag: Jeff Karstens

Karstens takes perfect game into 8th against D’backs

Last week, we were asking, "Who is Jeff Karstens?"  Now, I guess a better question is, "Is Jeff Karstens for real?".

Pirates hurler Jeff Karstens took a perfect game into the eighth inning against Arizona today.  He finished the game with a two-hit shutout.  Oh, for good measure, he also hit two singles and scored a run. 

This was Karstens’ second start this year (and second overall in the NL, his past two years were spent with the Yankees).  His first start was against the Cubs when he pitched six scoreless innings.  Karstens got the win in that game though it didn’t prevent some people (most likely Cub fans) to express some sour grapes skepticism that he didn’t have great stuff due to lack of control. 

No one can argue that Karstens was on his game today.  In addition to the two hits, he only allowed one walk. 

Pirates blog Bucs Dugout has the run down on today’s game. 

Newcomer Karstens has Cubs number

The Cubs may have won four straight against the tough Milwaukee Brewers but couldn’t handle the last place Pirates today. 

Is this how it’s going to be the rest of the season?  Surely, if we can take on big shots like Sabathia and Sheets, we can beat uhhh, Jeff Karstens??  Who is Jeff Karstens? 

Karstens pitched his NL debut against the Cubs today and well, he showed some good stuff.  He spread out five hits in six innings and didn’t allow a run for the win.  Karstens is a Yankee product who was drafted in 2003 out of Texas Tech.  In the past two years, he’s only pitched fifteen games (9 starts).  In that small sample, his numbers were unimpressive but he’s had some decent stats in the minors.  Most particularly in 2007 when he combined for a 5-0 record, a 1.49 ERA and 47 Ks in 48 plus innings.

That said, one game is one game and I hate to say it but the Cubs have a tendency to have problems with newcomer pitchers.  Maybe that’s why we’ve done not so good with Pittsburgh in the last two years. 

Go Cubs!