A five-hour flight delay couldn't stop rookie Hunter Barco from pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
PITTSBURGH – Hunter Barco didn’t step directly off a plane onto the PNC Park mound Tuesday night, but it felt that way to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rookie left-hander.
Barco threw 4 2/3 innings in the Pirates’ 11-7 loss to the Cardinals, their first three-game losing streak this season. His long relief outing capped a long day.
Early Tuesday night, Barco learned he was being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Pittsburgh needed a fresh arm after using eight relievers on Tuesday night during a bullpen game.
Indianapolis is at Memphis this week, so Barco flew from there through Atlanta to Pittsburgh. His connection in Atlanta was delayed by five hours due to the weather.
Consequently, Barco did not reach Pittsburgh until 6:15 p.m.—just 25 minutes before the scheduled start. Although missing the first pitch, he still arrived in time to help save the bullpen with his long outing.
Barco passed the Atlanta delay, thinking about baseball instead of eating cheeseburgers at The Varsity in the airport.
“It’s getting ready the entire flight here,” Barco said. “It’s sitting at the airport, going over at bats and hitters in my head. I haven’t done anything like that before, but it’s whatever you have to do.
“I didn’t want to be moving all day and be worn out. I tried to chill, got up and moved around when needed.”
Barco relieved Braxton Ashcraft in the fifth with one out, and the Pirates were down 5-0. He allowed an inherited runner to score, then gave up three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth as the Cardinals extended their lead to 11-3.
Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was appreciative of Barco’s effort.
“I thought he did a fantastic job,” Kelly said. “Quick turnaround once he got here. I thought he did a really great job under tough circumstances.”
“I thought he did a really great job under tough circumstances,”
Barco, though, was disappointed not to keep the Pirates in the game.
“I competed, but it’s about not giving up runs,” Barco said. “Got to be better and do whatever I can to help the team. Today I didn’t.”