CINCINNATI -- Camilo Doval's ERA at Yankee Stadium this season is 7.08. Outside of the Bronx, his ERA is 2.21.
The intriguing splits were put to the test on Sunday afternoon as Doval made his Pirates debut in the eighth inning against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. In the frame, Doval allowed a solo home run to his second batter, Tyler Stephenson, but he retired the other three in the inning, striking out Nathaniel Lowe with a slider.
Doval’s outing came in a 10-2 loss as the Pirates lost three of four games in the series and dropped their seventh game out of the last 10. The right-handed flamethrower came over from the Yankees in a trade on Saturday afternoon, and joined the Bucs on Sunday.
“Good stuff. First time coming out, I know Stephenson got him there, but I thought the stuff looked good, and we're excited to have him in the back of the ‘pen,” manager Don Kelly said.
Pirates starter Mitch Keller threw 70 pitches in two innings, exiting in the third without recording an out. Pittsburgh’s bullpen was forced to take on seven innings and fight through a 25-minute delay in action, which ended Noah Murdock’s outing early.
Ron Marinaccio followed Murdock with two innings and Yohan Ramírez threw two more. But there was still one more to go. That slot was reserved for new addition Doval.
When speaking to reporters pregame, Doval said he wasn’t told about a specific role with his new club, but he would be prepared for anything. With Pittsburgh trailing by seven in the bottom of the eighth, Doval entered for his Pirates debut.
Doval hadn’t pitched since Wednesday, and entering the game in a lopsided contest could serve as a confidence boost. Dotel has some comfort with Pittsburgh’s clubhouse, playing with Gregory Soto for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
“It feels great, just to be here. The vibes already are pretty good,” Doval said pregame through interpreter Stephen Morales. “There's some players here that I played with before, and it feels really good. ... Coming here, it's just a matter of me doing my job. Whatever they need me to do as a pitcher, I'll do to help the team win.”
Doval nearly was ambushed by the first batter he faced. On his first pitch, a 97.9 mph cutter, JJ Bleday just missed a solo home run, as his fly ball reached the right-field warning track.
Up next, right-handed-hitting catcher Stephenson worked a 3-1 count as Doval was unable to locate his pitches. Then, Doval left a 97.9 mph cutter in the middle of the zone. Stephenson hammered it into the right-field seats.
Doval later used a nasty 89.9 mph slider to whiff the left-handed batter Lowe. Pittsburgh doesn’t have many right-handed arms who can beat left-handed hitting.
To end his frame, Doval induced a weak flyout to center field for the final out.
While Doval posted a 4.54 ERA with the Yankees, a change of scenery could do him justice. That’s what the Pirates are banking on at least. He’s only part of the equation to fixing bullpen woes, with more moves expected before Monday’s Trade Deadline at 6 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s debut proved there’s still a way to go to getting Doval back on track to the version who was the 2023 MLB saves leader.
“It's simple. In this game, things like that are going to happen, just to get traded,” Doval said. “The way I see it is just to control the things that I can control. That's going to happen. Some people are going to make decisions. I just have to do my job and control myself.”