D-backs debutant Andrew Chafin pitches to scoreless no-decision vs. Indians

Aug 14, 2014, 2:03 AM | Updated: 2:12 am

Northeast Ohio native Andrew Chafin was burdened with a tall task two weeks ago when his girlfriend requested his big league debut for her birthday.

He wasn’t able to fulfill the request, as her birthday came and went Tuesday without a Chafin pitch in a rain-postponed game, forcing a doubleheader Wednesday.

But in the second game of Wednesday’s tilt, Chafin came through, though in belated fashion, taking the ball for the Arizona Diamondbacks against his hometown team, the Cleveland Indians. His girlfriend, a student at his nearby alma mater Kent State University, was in attendance.

Chafin, 24, put the icing on the cake by delivering five scoreless innings in the debut, while allowing just three hits and a pair of walks. The left-hander threw 101 pitches, 59 for strikes, and struck out three Indians hitters. He maneuvered around two early errors in the process.

Promoted from Triple-A Reno last week, the former first-round pick exited the game in a 0-0 tie.

Chafin was the first rookie starter this season to throw five or more scoreless innings allowing three hits or less in his first major league appearance.

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Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer delivers in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Vidal Nuno delivers in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis fields a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Didi Gregorius in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Gregorius was out on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte dives for a ball hit by Cleveland Indians' Lonnie Chisenhall (8) in the fifth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Chisenhall was out on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Indians' Michael Brantley hits a two-RBI single off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Vidal Nuno in the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Zach Walters and Jason Kipnis scored on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill runs out a ground ball hit off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer in the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Hill was out on the play. Mark Trumbo scored on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana hits a double off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Vidal Nuno in the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Didi Gregorius, right, gets Cleveland Indians' Mike Aviles out at second base in the fourth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Indians' Zack Walters , right, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a game-winning solo home run off Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Randall Delgado in the ninth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. The Indians defeated the Diamondbacks 3-2. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin delivers in the second inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Andrew Chafin delivers in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte hits a single off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin in the fourth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Cliff Pennington, right, gets Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez out at second base and throws to first base in the fifth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Indians' Mike Aviles was out at first base for the double play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis fields a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Didi Gregorius in the seventh inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Gregorius was out on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte reacts after striking out against Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski in the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Indians' Michael Brantley hits a single in the eighth inning against Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Eury De La Rosa in the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Diamondbacks catcher Tuffy Gosewisch watches (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Didi Gregorius, right, jumps after getting Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis out at second base in the tenth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. Gregorius was able to complete the double play to get Mike Aviles out at first base. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb hits a single in the ninth inning off Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Bryan Shaw in the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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