BRADENTON, Fla. -- The crack of the bats was louder than usual against Zach Duke and Paul Maholm in the Pirates' 6-4 upending of the Washington Nationals yesterday at McKechnie Field. The command and customary cool were not the norm, either.
Duke's line included a run, two hits and two strikeouts in his two innings.
Maholm was hit harder, giving up three runs and five hits in the next two innings, including a two-run home run by Ryan Church.
Cause for alarm?
Not for them, apparently.
"It's nothing big," Duke said.
"Just something that happens at this time of year," Maholm said.
Duke was chosen to start the Pirates' exhibition home opener, and the marketing division apparently did not want that to go unnoticed: Magnetic schedules bearing his likeness were given away to the 3,852 who passed through the gates.
And it appeared early as if Duke might deliver on whatever expectations were there, retiring Washington 1-2-3 in the first on 10 pitches. One of those was a fall-off-a-cliff curve that Royce Clayton missed for strike three.
Marlon Byrd led off the second with a liner that center fielder Rajai Davis misplayed into a double. Marlon Anderson's groundout advanced Byrd, and Ryan Zimmerman's shot through the box brought him home.
After Daryle Ward struck out looking at another good curve, Davis atoned for his gaffe with a fine running catch of Matthew LeCroy's drive to the wall in center.
Duke walked off with a visible sigh and, afterward, allowed to having a few jitters.
"Even though it is spring training, you're nervous to get going. There's adrenaline there," he said. "It's natural to leave a couple pitches up."
The pitch Duke consistently elevated was his two-seam fastball, but he had little trouble with the rest.
Maholm, by contrast, struggled with just about his entire arsenal because his foundation was off.
"My mechanics weren't right," he said. "It's just one of those things you have to experience, work out of your system and do better the next time out."
Even though Duke and Maholm have 20 career starts between them, their importance to the Pirates' coming season cannot be overstated.
For one, they showed exceptional talent and poise as rookies last season. Duke, 22, was 8-2 with a 1.81 earned run average in 14 starts. Maholm, 23, was nearly as effective in six starts, going 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA twice pitching eight shutout innings.
For another, those two and Oliver Perez are the only confirmed members of the rotation with Kip Wells out indefinitely and, peculiar as it might sound, could offer the best hopes for consistency on a staff that will be as inexperienced as any in Major League Baseball.
Which probably explains why the Pirates did not feel compelled to wait until spring training to inform Duke and Maholm they will be part of the rotation.
"They're young guys, but you have a better feeling of trust about them because of their composure, their maturity and, obviously, their ability to throw strikes," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "You don't see those inconsistencies that you see out of most younger players."
"They're special," manager Jim Tracy said. "Zach Duke was very successful last year. Maholm showed signs of brilliance. These guys don't pitch like they're young."
Perhaps the most telling sign of the team's faith in Duke and Maholm is that hands-on pitching coach Jim Colborn rarely has been seen spending much time this spring with either, no doubt adopting an if-it-ain't-broke approach.
"They certainly have talent, but what you really notice is that they're beyond their years in knowing how to pitch," Colborn said. "They have an instinct."
Still, as their outings yesterday showed, they remain fallible.
Humble, too.
No matter how many pronouncements to the contrary are written or spoken, neither publicly accepts the idea he has made the rotation.
"I'm still trying to make the team," Duke said. "I never take anything for granted. I always work hard. For me, it kind of adds pressure, and I like that. I have motivation to work if I think like that. There are expectations of me, and I love it. I want to work hard to meet those."
"Naw, I'm not in the rotation," Maholm said. "It's in the papers, but I'm here with the attitude that I still have to win a spot. I've got six starts in the majors. I'm not assuming I have anything locked up. If I pitch badly, I won't be there."
Peter Diana, Post-GazetteCenter fielder Rajai Davis makes a running grab on a ball hit by the Nationals' Brendan Harris yesterday.
Click photo for larger image.
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Peter Diana, Post-GazetteZach Duke allowed one run on two hits in his two innings against the Washington Nationals yesterday.
Click photo for larger image.
First Published: March 4, 2006, 5:00 a.m.
