McCutchen Lasts Six in MLB Debut

Aug. 31, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- Former Sooner right-handed pitcher Daniel McCutchen made his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday in Cincinnati against the Reds. McCutchen registered a no-decision as he left the game tied in the seventh inning before the Pirates fell 4-3.

A three-year letterwinner at Oklahoma in 2004-06, McCutchen started on the mound opposite the Reds' Kip Wells and lasted six innings with three runs allowed off five hits. The Norman native also struck out five batters and walked two, while going 1-for-2 at the plate with a RBI single in his first at-bat.

McCutchen was recently named to the United States roster for the 2009 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Baseball World Cup last Thursday, which takes place in Europe from Sept. 9-27, but was called up to pitch for the Pirates instead for the final five weeks of the season.

"We wanted him to pitch here," manager John Russell said, who is also an OU alum and native of Norman, Okla. "With the rotation the way it was, we were going to have to come up with six or seven spot starts because of the innings some of our guys were going to get to and it allows us to cover those starts. We feel like he's done a very good job. He gives us a chance to see him, but also a very good chance to win games."

McCutchen leads the AAA International League with 13 wins and since the All-Star break, he has gone 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA in eight starts. In those 52 innings, McCutchen has walked just six while striking out 40. Overall, he is 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 24 starts this season.

"He started out OK, but these last couple months he's been throwing the ball very well," Russell said. "He's been very aggressive."

In addition, McCutchen has 110 strikeouts in 142.2 innings and has lasted at least six innings in each of his last nine starts.

He is the sixth Sooner in the Majors right now and the 10th overall in 2009, joining former teammate Ryan Rohlinger, who was called up to the San Francisco Giants last week. Both McCutchen and Rohlinger helped lead OU to a 2006 Norman Regional championship.

- information in this release from MLB.com.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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