Cole Kimball might be a rookie. He might have all of three days of major-league experience to his name. But the Nats’ 25-year-old reliever already gives off the cool vibe of an established veteran. Pitch three days in a row to start your career? No problem. Trusted in tight spots two of three times? Whatever.
Kimball came on with one out in the seventh inning and his team up 2-1 on Monday night against the Pirates. He promptly gave up a triple to Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen that drove home a run – a slicing hit down the right-field line that just stayed fair.
“I got him off the end. I was leaning. I thought it might go foul, but it just dipped in there,” Kimble said. “He’s fast, but next time I face him he’s not gonna do that.”
Okay then. Kimble did feel bad that play cost starter John Lannan a shot at a win. To be honest, even Lannan would admit his day was a struggle before settling down in the fifth and sixth innings. But he took out his “anger” with a whip-cream pie to Kimball’s face to commemorate that first big-league win.
It was well deserved. With McCutchen still on third, Kimball buckled down himself. He made Jose Tabata ground out and struck out Neil Walker with a nasty 83-mile-per-hour breaking pitch to end the threat and keep the game tied at 2-2. He also retired the first Pirates batter in the eighth inning.
In two innings over the weekend Kimble kept the Marlins scoreless, walking two batters and striking out two more. He kept Florida at bay in the ninth on Saturday with the Nats down 1-0. Sunday’s scoreless ninth came with Washington ahead 8-4 and closed out that contest. No worries about over use, according to Kimball. He had some decent rest towards the end of his tenure at Triple-A Syracuse last week. Plus, the Nats needed him. Manager Jim Riggleman said Tyler Clippard and Todd Coffey (bruised elbow) were out. So Kimball did the job. For now, he sees the last three days as a good start and nothing more.
“I’m getting there,” Kimball said. “There’s some stuff I still have to do better. Stop getting behind batters. Stop walking guys. So it’s going get better as season goes on.”
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