MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Andrew Dutkanych IV

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Andrew Dutkanych IV Sets the Tone for Palm Beach
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Andrew Dutkanych IV gave Palm Beach the kind of start that makes everything easier.

Dutkanych is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after working five strong innings in the Cardinals’ 9-3 win over Fort Myers on Thursday night.

His final line:

5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

That is a winning line.

Dutkanych allowed only three hits, kept Fort Myers off the earned-run column, walked two and struck out seven. He gave Palm Beach length, missed bats and kept the game under control long enough for the offense to keep adding on.

The only run charged to him was unearned, and that matters. He did not let the inning get away from him. He worked through traffic, limited the damage and handed the game to the bullpen with Palm Beach in position to finish the job.

For a pitcher still trying to build consistency, this was the kind of outing you want to see.

Strikeouts were the headline. Dutkanych punched out seven over five innings, showing the swing-and-miss ability that can carry a start even when command is not perfect. The two walks were manageable, and he threw enough strikes to keep Fort Myers from settling in.

Palm Beach backed him with a balanced offensive night. Brayden Smith went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Miguel Hernández had three hits, hit his first home run and scored three times. Ryan Weingartner also homered, walked, stole a base and scored twice. Trevor Haskins added two hits, an RBI and a stolen base.

That gave Dutkanych plenty of room, but his work on the mound still set the tone.

The bullpen finished it from there. Nathan Shinn, Hunter Kublick, Justin Militello and Jesús García combined to cover the final four innings, allowing only two runs, one earned.

Palm Beach improved to 51-47 overall, and the win gave the Cardinals another solid night in the Florida State League race.

But the pitching headline belonged to Dutkanych.

Five innings.
No earned runs.
Seven strikeouts.

That will play.

Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day:
Andrew Dutkanych IV, RHP, Palm Beach Cardinals
Final Line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Courtesy of Andrew Dutkanych