HOUSTON — Astros manager Joe Espada was angry Saturday night, but it wasn’t over his team’s 13-9 loss that included a 10-run first inning for the Reds.
His ire was directed at threats made toward pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., whose first start at Daikin Park since 2022 was one of the worst of his career. McCullers missed the last two seasons due to right elbow problems resulting in June 2023 surgery.
“I just left my office,” Espada said upon sitting down for his postgame media availability, “and it’s very unfortunate that Lance McCullers … that there are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance tonight. It’s very unfortunate that we have to deal with this – after all he’s done for this city, for this team. …
“I’ve got kids, too. And it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad. Very, very sad.”
McCullers retired only one of eight hitters he faced, putting the Astros in a hole they couldn’t escape. The Reds’ first inning, which included seven runs charged to McCullers, was the biggest inning by an Astros opponent since the Rangers scored 11 in the bottom of the third on Aug. 19, 2013.
“He hasn’t pitched in 2 1/2 years. We’ve got to give some time, all right?” said Espada, who roughly a dozen times pounded his fist on the interview table in front of him. “This can’t happen. I’m really upset that this happened to athletes, and … you know, we’re trying our best. Everybody’s trying our best. But the fact I’ve gotta go to my office and deal with this? Come on. We’re better than that.”
McCullers, who struggled with his command from the get-go and threw only 17 of 36 pitches for strikes, acknowledged it was “a tough evening.”
“I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,” said the veteran right-hander, who confirmed the threats were made over social media.
“There have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly, and I think actually one or two people from other issues around baseball actually have had to go to jail for things like that. But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public they’re going to stab my kids to death … things like that are tough to hear as a dad.”
McCullers walked leadoff man TJ Friedl and then hit Matt McLain with a full-count pitch. Elly De La Cruz then tagged McCullers for an opposite-field homer to left.
After recording his first out, McCullers allowed two walks, a single and a double before exiting. Logan VanWey allowed two inherited runners to score and surrendered three additional runs, putting the Astros in the biggest first-inning hole they’d seen since July 29, 2007, when the Padres jumped out to an 11-0 lead in Houston.
“Obviously, you want to pitch well, but I think putting your teammates in that spot is more of the downer of the outing,” said McCullers, who induced only two whiffs among his eight pitches that drew swings. “I haven’t felt super comfortable with my pitches the last two outings. Don’t know if it’s just the time off. I don’t feel nervous, but maybe I’m just not moving in the way I’m accustomed to moving.
“You know, you fail on a very large stage – a lot of eyes. And there’s nowhere to hide. At the end of the day, I just want to do my job. I just want to be a good pitcher for the Astros. And I believe I’ll get there.”
McCullers’ start was the second-shortest of his career. On Sept. 4, 2020, he faced only five batters, totaling 18 pitches, without recording an out against the Angels. He then went on the 10-day injured list with neck nerve irritation.
McCullers recorded one out on one other occasion: the 11th start of his Major League career, when he threw 43 pitches and allowed six runs on seven hits against the Rangers on Aug. 3, 2015. That resulted in a nearly three-week stint with Double-A Corpus Christi.
Espada gave no indication McCullers wouldn’t take his next turn when the Astros face the Rangers in Arlington next weekend.
“We’re going to continue to help him, and we expect him to improve,” Espada said. “And he’s going to continue to get an opportunity.”
