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Watch: Butera lowers career ERA with scoreless frame

Ed Zurga / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Pitching is becoming old hat for Drew Butera.

The Kansas City Royals backup catcher made his fourth career appearance on the mound a memorable one Saturday. Coming into a 12-5 game to relieve a Royals bullpen that was taxed after two straight blowout contests and one historically bad performance, Butera dazzled and surprised onlookers with a scoreless inning (though he did allow one inherited runner to score), and a strikeout of Houston Astros first baseman Marwin Gonzalez on a 91-mph fastball.

Saturday's outing was impressive beyond his display of 90-plus mph heat, as he actually improved his career pitching line on several fronts. For a catcher who rarely takes the mound, the 32-year-old seems quite able to at least hold his own against big-league hitters.

DREW BUTERA'S CAREER PITCHING LINE

Gm. IP ERA WHIP K/BB K/9 IP
4 3.2 4.91 1.091 4/1 1.091

(Courtesy: Baseball-Reference)

Though Kauffman Stadium's scoreboard claimed Butera threw a bevy of different pitches, including a knuckleball, the 32-year-old was quick to note the machine was incorrect.

"I threw a fastball, changeup. I'd like to think I have a lot of those in my repertoire, but I don't. Four-seam and let it ride," Butera told MLB.com's Scott Chasen.

Manager Ned Yost was suitably impressed by Butera's work, but was quick to temper expectations for his burgeoning pitching career postgame.

"Drew will be available for (Sunday)," Yost told reporters, "but hopefully we won’t need him."

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)

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