David Moraga
From BR Bullpen
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.
- Debut June 11, 2000
- Final Game September 28, 2000
- Born July 8, 1975 in Torrance, CA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Moraga had one of the unluckiest stints in the Majors in 2000. Although he went a combined 14-7 with a respectable 3.39 ERA in the minors that year, Moraga posted a horrendous 40.50 ERA in four games in the big leagues. In 2 2/3 innings, Moraga allowed 10 hits, walked two and hit a batter. In total, he allowed 12 earned runs.
[edit] June 11, 2000: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Montreal Expos
In his first game, he allowed a single to the first batter he faced, Carlos Delgado, then threw a wild pitch to the next batter, Brad Fullmer before eventually walking him. He left the game without ever getting anyone out, being replaced by Felipe Lira. All the batters Moraga allowed on base were eventually brought home on a home run by Tony Batista, the first batter Lira faced after replacing Moraga.
[edit] June 12, 2000: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Montreal Expos
His second appearance was no better. He allowed a double to Raul Casanova and then a single to Santiago Perez before recording the first out of his career: a James Mouton strikeout. He then proceeded to allow a double to Ron Belliard scoring Casanova and Perez, before inducing a Marquis Grissom pop up.
[edit] June 14, 2000: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Montreal Expos
In his third game, he allowed a double to Jeromy Burnitz, the first batter he faced. Geoff Jenkins reached first on a fielder's choice. Charlie Hayes hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Burnitz. Moraga finally got Tyler Houston to strikeout to end the inning, though it was more of the same the next inning. Raul Casanova doubled off of Moraga and Santiago Perez walked, before he finally got Jamey Wright out on a sacrafice bunt before leaving the game. Casanova and Perez did eventually score, with Ron Belliard and Marquis Grissom hitting a sacrafice fly and a home run, respectively.
[edit] September 28, 2000: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies
He was picked up by the Colorado Rockies on June 21 and pitched in only one game with them. In the fourth and final appearance of his season and career, Moraga allowed a single to the first batter he faced, opposing pitcher Armando Reynoso. Reynoso was forced out when Danny Bautista hit a ball to the shortstop, who forced Reynoso out at second. Bautista was safe at first. Moraga hit Luis Gonzalez, then allowed a single to Greg Colbrunn, scoring Bautista. Steve Finley hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Gonzalez, then Matt Williams singled. Jay Bell proceeded to hit a home run, before Moraga finally got Craig Counsell to ground out.
In each of his four appearances, Moraga allowed a hit to the first batter he faced. Of the 15 batters that got on base while he was pitching, only three of them did not eventually score.
Moraga, along with Keith Osik, hold a dubious record. Among all post-1900 Major League pitchers with at least two innings pitched under their belts, Moraga and Osik hold the record for highest career ERA - 40.50. The all-time record belongs to a pitcher known only as Lewis, who in 1890 pitched three innings, giving up 20 runs for a 60.00 career ERA.
Despite an unimpressive Major League stint, Moraga was a fairly successful pitcher in the minor leagues, posting season ERAs as low as 2.80.
