Dustin Nippert Comes Through for Texas
Thursday, September 10th, 2009Dustin Nippert laid out his case for keeping the No. 5 spot in the Rangers’ starting rotation of pitchers in the franchise’s 5.0-2 win versus the Blue Jays in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Next in line, Brandon McCarthy, making his 1st start since departing the pitching rotation in early June for the DL.
Nippert showed far improved finesse than in his most recent appearance last week against the Yankees. In the Bronx, he allowed eleven base runners (4 hits, seven BBs) and got 11 outs. On Tuesday afternoon, he pitched out of trouble to earn his 5th win of the year and 3rd as a member of the starting rotation. Nippert allowed 5 hits, walked merely one. He lowered his earned run average as a starting pitcher to 4.43 and on the whole to 3.91. It was his third quality game in his prior five outings.
Nippert claimed there seriously wasn’t much difference between how he pitched last week and on Tuesday: “Truly able to throw strikes. In New York, I believe I threw one slider in the strike zone. The bigger mess I put myself in, I tried relentlessly to get beyond it. I was truly going the wrong way. I continued walking men, trying to make that flawless pitch.
“Earlier, I was able to throw it ahead in the count, behind in the count. Keep the batters away from my fastball.”
Said manager Ron Washington: “I don’t suppose he was overthrowing. He was balancing with his change-up and his curving stuff. Increased the speed of his fastball.”
Washington and Nippert together indicated Nippert wasn’t playing to protect his place in the pitching rotation. Furthermore Nippert said he will gladly start or come in from the bullpen. Since the Rangers are in playoff contention, each roster member’s function increases in significance.
“I only want to assist this franchise,” he claimed. “It’s good for us that we possess further arms now. Whomever’s pitching well you could choose to start.
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