McCutchen to Diamondbacks after HBP: 'I don't forget'

Andrew McCutchen expected to be hit all night. He didn't think the Arizona Diamondbacks would wait until one out in the ninth to actually do it.

The Pittsburgh Pirates star center fielder was bracing for retaliation in each of his first four plate appearances during Saturday's 8-1 win over the Diamondbacks, a night after Ernesto Frieri's fastball broke the left hand of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. 

Arizona finally got the Pirates back - when McCutchen least expected it. 

[Courtesy: MLB.com]

Via MLB.com:

They had all game to retaliate. I can deal with being hit by a pitch. That's the game. It happens. Retaliation is going to happen in this game, but there is a right way to do it. They had plenty of chances.

First inning, do it. Perfect time: one out, guy on second base. Get it over with. But they wanted to wait it out, wait until the ninth, second and third.

McCutchen was sporting a major-league welt on his back following the game, courtesy of a 95 miles per hour fastball from Diamondbacks reliever Randall Delgado. 

The Pirates outfielder took particular issue with Delgado's approach to the at-bat:

After a slider away. They're setting me up that inning -- and it was really not appreciated. Are they hoping I check my swing and it hits my hand, and I get hurt, too? If you're going to hit me, hit me. If you're going to miss me with the first pitch, hit me with the second pitch ... try to hit me. But you don't throw a slider on the next pitch, and wait for the third pitch. Because that's how people get hurt.

Delgado, who was ejected for the incident, plead ignorance in postgame comments. 

"Trying to work my corners more," the right-hander said. "I think maybe I [didn't] have control tonight."

The Pirates sit 1 1/2 games back of the division leading Milwaukee Brewers heading into Sunday's series finale.

"I should be thanking them -- now I'm ready to go," McCutchen said. "They hit me. It's water under the bridge. So we'll move on. We'll show up tomorrow ready to play and ready to win. Just remember: I don't forget. I'm ready to go now."