Stat Line of the Day: Bad Pitcher Edition (March 25th)

The last time three pitchers gave up 10 runs each in three separate games was in 1930, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. But, it happened in Spring Training yesterday, as three not-that-bad pitchers all put up some big numbers yesterday, and not in the categories you would want to see them in. Helped out by some questionable defense and some hot hitting by the opposing squads, here's three pitching lines these guys better hope they don't throw up in the regular season (in order of how ugly we thought they were):

Kazmir was a 1st-round draft pick, NYM (2002)

3. Scott Kazmir (LAA): 5 IP, 8 H, 10 R (8 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR (7.79 spring ERA)
The only one of the three pitchers that didn't have the majority of his runs in a single inning, Kazmir (left) instead gave up four runs in both the first and second innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. At least Kazmir can say he's the only starting pitcher of the three whose opponent didn't get 20 hits, Kazmir gets the least impressive score of the day because frankly, his wasn't as entertaining as the other two. Kazmir just flat-out didn't pitch well, raising his spring ERA from 5.10 to that 7.79, easily his worst spring of his past three season. Kazmir's regular-season ERA has been on the rise lately as well--not what you want to see from a pitcher who, at 27, should be entering the prime years of his career.

2. Clay Buchholz (BOS): 4 IP, 11 H, 11 R (6 ER), 1BB, 5K, 4 HR (3.71 spring ERA)

The second-best line from this game was that Javier Vazquez gets the win for the Marlins despite giving up 6 earned runs in 4 innings. Where this game went wrong: the 4th inning. Buchholz had a man on first with two out after getting a foul bunt strikeout and a groundout in a 5-5 ballgame. Then, after an error on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Buchholz gave up the following to the next four batters: walk, home run, double, home run. Still, those 5 unearned runs are pretty impressive until you consider our final pitcher of the day.

1. Jaime Garcia (STL): 4 IP, 14 H, 10 R (3 ER), 1 K, 2 HR (7.94 spring ERA)

The Mets won this game 16-3, also collecting 20 hits, as second baseman Brad Emaus looked to wrap up the second base job with a 4-for-4 day and three runs scored. It was Garcia, though, that had the best line of the day for one reason: all 7 unearned runs came off the SAME ERROR. After Nick Evans started off the 4th inning (those damn 4th innings) with a double and came home to score on two straight fly outs, it seemed Garcia might have an easy inning, even after Brad Emaus singled. Then Chris Capuano reached on a Skip Schumaker error, and the floodgates opened. The next seven batters got hits, and it took Scott Hairston getting thrown out at home by Matt Holliday trying to score from second on a Ronny Paulino single to end the inning--and Garcia's day.