Kyle Lohse
From BR Bullpen
Kyle Matthew Lohse
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
- School Butte College
- Debut June 22, 2001
- Born December 4, 1978 in Chico, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Kyle Lohse pitched for the Minnesota Twins from 2001 to 2006. In the middle of the 2006 season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played for them until the middle of the 2007 season, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He had back-to-back solid seasons for the Twins in 2002 and 2003, going 13-8, 4.23 and 14-11, 4.61 respectively. He reached 200 innings for the first time that second season. However, he was only used as a reliever in the 2002 postseason, and lost his only start in the 2003 ALDS, facing the New York Yankees. He then struggled to identical 9-13 records over the next two years. His ERA was a very poor 5.34 in 2004, when he gave up a whopping 240 hits in 194 innings, but he improved to 4.18 in 2005 even if his won/loss record did not budge. He was only 2-5, 7.07 in 22 games for Minnesota in 2006 when he was traded to the Reds for minor leaguer Zach Ward on July 31st. He pitched better in Cincinnati, going 3-5, 4.57 in 12 games.
Lohse was not in high demand on the free agent market following a so-so 2007 season, when he was a combined 9-12, 4.62 between the Reds and Phillies, and finally signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals for 2008. He turned out to be an excellent pick-up, putting up the best numbers of his career for the Cardinals: in 33 starts, he went 15-6 with a very good 3.78 ERA. He set personal bests for both wins and ERA, topped 200 innings pitched for the second time of his career, and while never a strikeout pitcher, he posted a solid K/W ratio of better than 2 to 1. However he regressed in 2009, ending the year at 6-10, 4.74 in only 23 games.
On April 27, 2010, he was pressed into action as an outfielder in a marathon 2-1 loss to the New York Mets. When the 18th inning started with the game still scoreless, the Cardinals had no more pitchers available, so manager Tony LaRussa sent infielder Felipe Lopez to the mound, with Lohse filling the open spot in left field; Lohse had pitched 7 innings two days earlier and was not available for mound duty. He made two putouts and went 0 for 1 at the plate over the next three innings, until the Cardinals finally lost the game 2-1 with outfielder Joe Mather now trying his luck toeing the pitching rubber. Lohse was sidelined by a rare condition later that season, being diagnosed with exertional compartment syndrome in his right forearm. He was placed on the disabled list on May 27th and was ineffective when he returned to action, ending with a record of 4-8, 6.55 in 18 starts.
Lohse came back strong in 2011. He was 6-0 after his first 10 starts, with a minute ERA, making him one of the top pitchers in the National League in the early going. He finished the season with a record of 14-8, 3.39, in 30 starts. Even though the Cardinals surprised everyone by winning the 2011 World Series after being seemingly out of the playoff race in mid-August, Lohse did not pitch particularly well in the postseason. He was the loser in his only starts in both the NLDS and NLCS, and was roughed up for 3 runs in 3 innings in a Game 3 start which was his only appearance on the mound in the World Series. The Cardinals lost that game, 16-7, to the Texas Rangers but Lohse made a key contribution to the their win in the epic Game 6 contest. He was called on as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 10th inning, with the Cards trailing 9-7, two runners on and no one out. He laid down a sacrifice bunt against Darren Oliver, advancing both runners one base; they both came in to score before the end of the frame, tying the game and denying the Rangers a World Championship. When David Freese ended the game with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th, it set the stage for a Game 7 showdown. Manager Tony LaRussa went with ace Chris Carpenter to start the contest, and he responded with a complete game win to clinch the Championship.
In 2012, Lohse was given the starting assignment on Opening Day after Carpenter went down with an injury in spring training. It was a historic occasion, being the first game played at the new Marlins Park and the first played by the Miami Marlins under their new name. Lohse was outstanding, not giving up a hit until the 7th and being credited with his team's 4-1 win.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (2008)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (2003 & 2008)
- Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011
