![\"Wilber](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dotel-1120x630.jpg\")
Photo provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
PITTSBURGH \u2014 Five appearances and two stints into his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wilber Dotel earned his first big-league win.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old rookie threw three-scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Pirates in their 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs<\/a> at PNC Park. Starter Carmen Mlodzinski left the game after five innings with the score tied 1-1, and Dotel was pitching when Henry Davis hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s awesome,\u201d manager Don Kelly said of Dotel getting his first win. \u201d Three innings out of the \u2018pen in that situation in such a close game. Mixed, changed speeds, threw strikes. He was tremendous.\u201d<\/p>\n Dotel entered in the sixth inning and stranded a Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros one-out single. He then recorded two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 seventh inning. After Davis put the Pirates ahead in the bottom of the seventh, Dotel went back out for the eighth inning and delivered another scoreless frame.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was great,\u201d Mlodzinski said of Dotel\u2019s performance. \u201cI feel like he went right after guys. It was a 1-1 game and it looked like we were winning 10-0 which is a compliment to his composure on the mound, which is super-important in a game that is close.\u201d<\/p>\n Dotel, who has been used as a starting pitcher for the majority of his minor-league career, has slotted in nicely to a bullpen that has had its struggles this season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels really comfortable,\u201d Dotel said of pitching out of the bullpen through coach\/interpreter Stephen Morales. \u201cMy job is to eat innings. I they\u00a0need me for one or for three out four, I\u2019ll be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite being a rookie, Dotel has shown plenty of composure on the mound. After Monday\u2019s masterful performance, the right-hander has a 1.69 ERA, having allowed two runs on six hits in 10.1 innings. <\/p>\n His confidence seems to be growing with each outing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s strong right now,\u201d Dotel said of his confidence. \u201cIt all comes from my hard work and then trusting my abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly, who said he thought Dotel looked good during his first stint with the Pirates earlier in the year, has seen him grow as a pitcher even more of late.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks a little more comfortable now, getting some innings under his belt and starting to understand how to attack guys,\u201d said Kelly. <\/p>\n Given that the Pirates bullpen this season has been shaky and Dotel has looked solid through the first handful of outings to begin his career, he looks like a player poised to take on a larger role.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> Wilber Dotel<\/a> <\/p>\n