Pirates righthander Jeff Karstens made two starts this season before Tuesday and done reasonably well. His third start, Tuesday night in Phoenix, didn't go as well:
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jeff Karstens has left after one inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to shoulder inflammation.
Karstens allowed two runs to Arizona in the first inning Tuesday night, both with two outs. The right-hander batted in the second inning, but didn’t come out for the bottom half.
The inflammation must have been pretty serious; the Pirates are taking no chances:
Brad Lincoln has been recalled from Triple A Indianapolis and Jeff Karstens has been placed on 15 day DL with right shoulder inflammation.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 18, 2012
Karstens had a good year for the Pirates in 2011, posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.207 WHIP in 30 appearances (26 starts). Lincoln, the Pirates' first-round pick in 2006, has struggled at the major-league level; he has a 5.74 ERA and 1.507 WHIP in 23 major league appearances (17 starts).
So it goes. Twenty years after their last winning season, the Pirates are still... the Pirates.