D-backs’ Brandon McCarthy happy to contribute to win

Aug 27, 2013, 4:25 PM | Updated: 4:25 pm

Arizona Sports

This baseball season has been a tough one on Arizona Diamondbacks’ right-hander Brandon McCarthy.

After recovering from brain surgery last September, McCarthy has found difficulty blending in with his new team — he’s struggled on the mound, missed two months with a shoulder injury and suffered a seizure while dining at a Valley restaurant with his wife in June.

But Monday night, everything came together for McCarthy as he threw seven strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on five hits in a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres at Chase Field. It was McCarthy’s third win of the season, and first since May 24.

“It’s nice, at least I can leave the game feeling like I carried my weight and kind of did what I was supposed to do,” McCarthy. “The starters, we’ve kind of been wearing out the bullpen a little bit, so it’s on us to get as deep as we can.

“I was at least happy I was able to do that tonight, so it’s nice to leave the game with a positive feeling.”

That wasn’t the case in McCarthy’s last outing August 21 at Cincinnati when he was chased after giving up seven runs on eight hits in just 2.1 innings of work — his shortest outing of the season. McCarthy used that outing as fuel to improve.

“That Reds start was so bad, you have to internalize quickly and figure out what was going on,” McCarthy said. “I mean it’s just keeping my body aligned and keeping my front side closed and keeping my glove close to my body, and any time I do that, the ball kind of comes out effortlessly.

“I throw actually harder, the ball moves later and I can get away with more mistakes because the movement’s there as opposed to what we’ve seen the last few weeks where if a pitch isn’t perfect, it’s going to get hit because the movement’s not late and it’s not sharp.”

The outing was McCarthy’s first of seven or more innings without allowing an earned run since last June 19, when he combined with two relievers on a 3-0 shutout of the Dodgers while pitching for the Oakland Athletics.

“I think he pitched great, all the stuff that he worked on, he was able to execute,” manager Kirk Gibson said.

“He really got it rolling there, seven big inning for us.”

McCarthy will try to keep the positive momentum going in his next start Sunday at Chase Field against the San Francisco Giants.

Follow @Vincemarotta

U.S. Navy Ensign John Sidney "Jack" McCain IV, and his mother, Cindy McCain, pause during a silent first pitch prior to the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres baseball game Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Doug Davis follows through against the San Diego Padres during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

San Diego Padres pitcher Chad Gaudin adjusts his cap after giving up his fifth run of the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Snyder rounds third after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Augie Ojeda, front, up ends San Diego Padres second baseman David Eckstein on a double play attempt during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Justin Upton, left, gets back to second base in time as San Diego Padres' David Eckstein makes the catch in a pick-off attempt during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Home plate umpire Eric Cooper throws San Diego Padres manager Bud Black out of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Home plate umpire Eric Cooper, right, throws San Diego Padres catcher Nick Hundley out of the game during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. Leading up to the ejection, Cooper and Hundley had a conversation after Cooper ruled that Hundley failed to make the tag at home on Diamondbacks' Chris Young, who scored on the play. (AP Photo/Matt York)

U.S. Navy Ensign John Sidney "Jack" McCain IV, center, his mother, Cindy McCain, right, and father, U.S. Sen. John McCain watch the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres during a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

San Diego Padres' Chris Burke (8) high-fives teammates Kevin Kouzmanoff (5), Henry Blanco, center, and Edgar Gonzalez, top, after they scored on a Drew Macias double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, May 25, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.