Ashcraft growing into a key piece of Pirates' elite rotation

PITTSBURGH – Braxton Ashcraft’s transition from reliever and spot starter to full-time starter has probably gone as smoothly as manager Don Kelly could have ever hoped through a pair of starts this season.

After lasting a career-high six innings his last time out against Cincinnati, the 26-year-old tallied yet another personal best, striking out eight in his second outing of the season. Ashcraft tossed six innings of one-run ball Sunday afternoon in the Pirates’ 8-2 series-finale victory over Baltimore, leading Pittsburgh to its fifth consecutive win.

After walking four in his last outing, Ashcraft flipped the script by not allowing a single free pass. He was pulled prior to the seventh inning after throwing just 87 pitches, the same number as his previous start in which he set a career high. The outing lowered his ERA to 2.25 and his WHIP to 1.00.

“We’ve put in a lot of work over these last five days, and it paid off,” Ashcraft said. “That's a testament to the people that we have around us, [pitching coach Bill Murphy], and all the other guys out there watching every ‘pen and watching every throwing program. You get to piggyback off of their thoughts and how they see you move. It really helps.”

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Ashcraft was sharp out of the gate once again. Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward welcomed him to the game with a leadoff single, but Ward was quickly thrown out trying to steal second base. The right-hander went on to retire the next eight batters in order, including four consecutive at one point via strikeout. He needed just eight pitches to get through the third inning.

Ashcraft allowed a pair of doubles in the fourth inning, leading to a run, but struck out Samuel Basallo and got Tyler O’Neill to pop out to limit further damage. He got through the fifth and sixth innings with little issue.

Unlike his previous start in which he was handed a loss despite only allowing a pair of runs through six innings, Ashcraft was given more than enough run support. Ryan O’Hearn, who’s now reached safely in each of his first eight games this season, homered in the first inning before the Pirates struck for four more runs in the second.

“Yeah, he did great,” Kelly said. “The first three were really good. Ran into a little bit of trouble there in the fourth, was able to settle down and get through it and finished really [efficiently] there. Six innings and was in the zone. I think that was a big key today, too, was finding ways to be in the zone and not walk anybody.”

Ashcraft split time in different roles in 26 games with the big league club last season, but seven of his final nine appearances for the Pirates were starts. Ashcraft solidified his spot in the rotation last month after striking out 16 batters in 13 1/3 innings while posting a 2.03 ERA in Spring Training.

The decision has already paid off.

Pittsburgh’s starting five is the only one across MLB which hasn't allowed a home run. The nine games without allowing a round-tripper is also the longest streak by Pittsburgh starting pitching to open a season since 1943.

“As a starting pitcher, you’re trying to go six, seven innings every time you go out there,” Ashcraft said. “Being able to get the ball on the ground or weak contact is the most important piece of that. Strikeouts come when they come. If you’re searching for strikeouts, then that’s whenever the pitch count can get up there a little bit, when you’re nibbling. For me, attacking the zone, suffocating them with strikes and letting the defense do their job.”

In his first 12 innings this season, Ashcraft has found the right way to mix his four-seamer with a slider, sinker, and curveball. There’s even another pitch, that Baseball Savant reads as a splitter, that he’s added to his arsenal to help keep opposing bats guessing at the plate.

“Being able to add that to the arsenal and being able to attack hitters in different ways, especially left-handed hitters, it adds to the portfolio, I guess,” Ashcraft said. “Being able to do that and being able to add and subtract, that allows you to go a little bit deeper in games and creates a new dimension to your arsenal. When you do that, you give yourself a chance to win.”