The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the thick of the playoff chase, but their chances are likely to plummet thanks to an injury sustained by reigning MVP Andrew McCutchen. Their star center fielder was involved in an ugly beanball battle between the Pirates and Diamondbacks, but that wasn't the reason for his impending DL stint.
On Friday Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was drilled by an Ernesto Frieri fastball on the hand in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Buccos up by five runs. The pitch did not seem intentional, but following the final out a D-Backs coach exchanged words with Pirates catcher Russell Martin.
The following night, Diamondbacks relief pitcher Randall Delgado threw inside at McCutchen, then threw a slider away before nailing him in the middle of his back. An enraged McCutchen threw down his bat but held his ire and went to first base. After the game he railed against the Diamondbacks' tactics.
"They had all game to retaliate. I can deal with being hit by a pitch. That's the game. It happens," McCutchen said. "Retaliation is going to happen in this game, but there is a right way to do it. They had plenty of chances," McCutchen said to MLB.com.
"First inning, do it. Perfect time: one out, guy on second base. Get it over with. But they wanted to wait it out, wait until the ninth, second and third.
"After a slider away. They're setting me up that inning - and it was really not appreciated. Are they hoping I check my swing and it hits my hand, and I get hurt, too? If you're going to hit me, hit me. If you're going to miss me with the first pitch, hit me with the second pitch ... try to hit me. But you don't throw a slider on the next pitch, and wait for the third pitch. Because that's how people get hurt. It hit me square in the spine. If I get hurt, what happens then?"
McCutchen is hurt now, but not because of the beaning. He injured his oblique hitting a sacrifice fly on Sunday afternoon and is expected to miss about a month according to reports.
The Pirates are currently 1.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers, and McCutchen was hitting .311 with 17 home runs, 67 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
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