05/04/25 07:21:00
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05/04 19:20 CDT Lance McCullers Jr. pitches 3 2/3 scoreless innings for Astros
in his first appearance since 2022
Lance McCullers Jr. pitches 3 2/3 scoreless innings for Astros in his first
appearance since 2022
CHICAGO (AP) --- Thirty months after his last appearance, Lance McCullers Jr.
finally made it back to the mound in a major league game.
The 31-year-old McCullers started Sunday for the Houston Astros and threw 3 2/3
scoreless innings in his first outing since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series in
Philadelphia. McCullers had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor
tendon and to remove a bone spur. Then he was shut down after a setback last
year.
He kept the Chicago White Sox off the scoreboard in his first game back,
allowing three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. The Astros lost 5-4
in a game shortened to seven innings by rain.
"I was happy with the overall stuff. Physically, I felt strong through the
game," McCullers told reporters. "Very grateful to just be back out with the
team and be an active member."
McCullers stranded runners on second and third in the first inning and pitched
out of a bases-loaded situation in the second. After a 1-2-3 third, he got two
outs in the fourth but also allowed a double and a walk. He was taken out after
87 pitches.
"A lot of foul balls, a lot of high-stress moments there, but I think he
pitched out of them," Espada said. "So he'll get ready for the next one."
McCullers is 49-32 with a 3.46 ERA in his career, which has been entirely with
Houston. He went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 2021, the last time he pitched
anything resembling a full season.
If he can regain that level, the right-hander can obviously help the Astros.
"It has been a very long road for me. It's been a grind to get back to this
point," McCullers said. "I know that I have to do a better job of controlling
the pitch count and getting quick outs and things like that, but from where
I've come from over the last couple years, especially where I was early this
offseason, I would lie to you guys if I didn't say I was pretty proud of
myself."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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