Home plate umpire Lance Barrett helped Jeff Locke to an eight-strikeout performance over six scoreless innings as the Pirates defeated the Rockies 6-1 Monday night.
When Locke has a good outing, I don't want to sully it by suggesting he isn't wholly responsible. Tonight, though, I have to credit Barrett, whose strike zone was about as wide as Rhode Island. If nothing else, tonight proved that with an infinitely wide zone, nibbler extraordinaire Jeff Locke can pretty much pitch with the best of 'em. Clayton Kershaw basically equals Jeff Locke minus about eight inches of home plate.
Barrett called some favorable pitches for opposing starter Chad Bettis too, but the wide zone seemed especially beneficial to Locke, who lives on the edges of the plate.