D-backs’ Brandon McCarthy has mixed results in debut

Apr 4, 2013, 8:33 AM | Updated: 3:57 pm

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon McCarthy made his much-anticipated debut against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night, but his return to the mound was a special sight to see for more than one reason.

McCarthy, who signed a two-year deal with the D-backs in December 2012, last pitched in a meaningful game on September 5, 2012 for the Oakland Athletics. During the fourth inning of that contest, McCarthy was struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Angels’ shortstop Erick Aybar.

Although he never lost consciousness, McCarthy fractured his skull and suffered a brain contusion on the play. He was forced to miss Oakland’s magical run to the postseason.

Wednesday night’s start, the 100th of his career, didn’t necessarily go to plan, as he gave up nine hits and six runs in five innings of work.

“It’s still one of the weirdest starts I can remember in a long time,” McCarthy said. “I felt really good and I threw a lot of strikes, but I just couldn’t throw good strikes.

“It was weird, everything just kept missing by two inches. It was an inch up, when it should have been an inch down.”

While McCarthy had a bit of an up-and-down debut, his teammates ultimately bailed him out in extra innings.

The D-backs managed to pull out a 10-9 victory over the Redbirds in 16 innings. It was the longest game (5:32) in the 16-year history of Chase Field and clinched the first series win of the season for Arizona.

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St. Louis Cardinals pitch Kyle Lohse reacts
after giving up an RBI single to Arizona
Diamondbacks' Wade Miley in the second inning
of a baseball game Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in
Phoenix. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Phoenix Coyotes right winger MikkelBoedker, of
Denmark, waves to the crowd as he watches the
Arizona Diamondbacks play the St. Louis
Cardinals in the third inning of a baseball
game Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Phoenix. The
Coyotes will face the Los Angeles Kings in the
Western Conference Finals.(AP Photo/Paul
Connors)

St. Louis Cardinals' Rafael Furcal, right, is
tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher
Miguel Montero, left, while sliding with his
hand outstretched to touch home plate in the
third inning of a baseball game on Wednesday,
May 9, 2012, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

St. Louis Cardinals' Rafael Furcal, bottom,
collides with Arizona Diamondbacks second
baseman Aaron Hill, who is able to hang onto
the ball after tagging out Furcal, as
Diamondbacks shortstop Willie Bloomquist,
background, looks on during a steal-attempt
in the first inning of a baseball game on
Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Phoenix.(AP
Photo/Paul Connors)

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Willie
Bloomquist lunges but cannot cleanly field a
ground ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Rafael
Furcal in the first inning of a baseball game
on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP
Photo/Paul Connors)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley
delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the
first inning of a baseball game on Wednesday,
May 9, 2012, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Lyle Overbay, top left,
is tagged out by St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Tony Cruz, top right, as umpire Laz Diaz,
bottom, looks on in the fourth inning of a
baseball game on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in
Phoenix. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tyler
Greene, top, tumbles over Arizona Diamondbacks'
Willie Bloomquist, bottom, as the Cardinals
turn a double play on a ball hit by
Diamondbacks' Justin Upton in the fifth inning
of a baseball game on Wednesday, May 9, 2012,
in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tyler
Greene, front, and Arizona Diamondbacks' Willie
Bloomquist both look to first base after
Bloomquist was forced out as the Cardinals
complete a double play on a ball hit by
Diamondbacks' Justin Upton in the fifth inning
of a baseball game on Wednesday, May 9, 2012,
in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

St. Louis Cardinals' Kyle Lohse, right,
stretches out to reach third base before
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Ryan
Roberts, left, can apply the tag in the fifth
inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, May 9,
2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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