Unearned runs link Garcia with Magrane and Forsch

A historical view of St. Louis Cardinals unearned runs by pitcher.

Jaime Garcia (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)When the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Chicago Cubs by a 5-1 score on Monday night, rookie left-hander Jaime Garcia took the loss, his eighth of the season against 13 wins. Four Cubs crossed the plate during Garcia’s seven innings, though only two runs were earned due to a Skip Schumaker error.

It continued a pattern of unearned runs during Garcia’s starts that has been in place for much of the season. The two unearned runs on Monday were the 14th and 15th during Jaime’s mound time in 2010.

Garcia’s 15 unearned runs is 23.44 percent of his total runs yielded of 64. That percentage is the highest for any Cardinals pitcher during the Tony La Russa era, which began in 1996. In fact, the last time a higher percentage of unearned runs scored was against Joe Magrane in 1988 at 29.82 percent.

In terms of raw numbers of unearned runs coming against a Cardinals pitcher, Bob Forsch holds the dubious honor of the most in a season for at least the last 50 years with 27 in 1976.

Most Unearned Runs-Season 1990-2010 Highest % of Unearned Runs 1990-2010
Player Year Age ER R UER % Player Year Age ER R UER %
Bob Tewksbury 1991 30 69 86 17 19.77%
Jaime Garcia 2010 23 49 64 15 23.44%
Jeff Suppan 2005 30 77 93 16 17.20% Bob Tewksbury 1991 30 69 86 17 19.77%
Alan Benes 1996 24 104 120 16 13.33% Mike Maroth 2007 29 45 56 11 19.64%
Danny Jackson 1995 33 66 82 16 19.51% Danny Jackson 1995 33 66 82 16 19.51%
Donovan Osborne 1992 23 75 91 16 17.58% Kent Mercker 1999 31 59 73 14 19.18%
Jason Marquis 2005 26 95 110 15 13.64% Donovan Osborne 1992 23 75 91 16 17.58%
Jaime Garcia 2010 23 49 64 15 23.44% Bryn Smith 1990 34 67 81 14 17.28%
Kent Mercker 1999 31 59 73 14 19.18% Donovan Osborne 1995 26 48 58 10 17.24%
Bryn Smith 1990 34 67 81 14 17.28% Jeff Suppan 2005 30 77 93 16 17.20%
Kip Wells 2007 30 103 116 13 11.21% Allen Watson 1993 22 44 53 9 16.98%
Jeff Suppan 2006 31 87 100 13 13.00% Bob Tewksbury 1990 29 56 67 11 16.42%
Matt Morris 2005 30 88 101 13 12.87% Rick Ankiel 2000 20 68 80 12 15.00%
Chris Carpenter 2010 35 72 84 12 14.29% Todd Stottlemyre 1998 33 63 74 11 14.86%
Rick Ankiel 2000 20 68 80 12 15.00% Chris Carpenter 2010 35 72 84 12 14.29%
Joel Pineiro 2009 30 83 94 11 11.70% Mark Petkovsek 1995 29 61 71 10 14.08%
Mike Maroth 2007 29 45 56 11 19.64% Jose DeLeon 1991 30 49 57 8 14.04%
Jeff Suppan 2004 29 87 98 11 11.22% Jason Marquis 2005 26 95 110 15 13.64%
Dustin Hermanson 2001 28 95 106 11 10.38% Alan Benes 1996 24 104 120 16 13.33%
Todd Stottlemyre 1998 33 63 74 11 14.86% Alan Benes 1997 25 52 60 8 13.33%
Matt Morris 1997 22 77 88 11 12.50% Jeff Suppan 2006 31 87 100 13 13.00%
Most Unearned Runs-Season 1960-1989
Highest % of Unearned Runs 1960-1989
Player Year Age ER R UER % Player Year Age ER R UER %
Bob Forsch 1976 26 85 112 27 24.11% Joe Magrane 1988 23 40 57 17 29.82%
Curt Simmons 1961 32 68 91 23 25.27% Curt Simmons 1961 32 68 91 23 25.27%
Reggie Cleveland 1972 24 101 120 19 15.83% Bob Forsch 1976 26 85 112 27 24.11%
Steve Carlton 1970 25 105 123 18 14.63% Ray Washburn 1969 31 45 59 14 23.73%
Curt Simmons 1963 34 64 82 18 21.95% Curt Simmons 1962 33 60 78 18 23.08%
Curt Simmons 1962 33 60 78 18 23.08% Al Jackson 1967 31 47 61 14 22.95%
Joe Magrane 1988 23 40 57 17 29.82% Curt Simmons 1963 34 64 82 18 21.95%
Silvio Martinez 1979 23 75 92 17 18.48% John Urrea 1978 23 59 75 16 21.33%
Al Jackson 1966 30 65 82 17 20.73% Roger Craig 1964 34 60 76 16 21.05%
Ernie Broglio 1961 25 80 97 17 17.53% Al Jackson 1966 30 65 82 17 20.73%
John Urrea 1978 23 59 75 16 21.33% Ron Reed 1975 32 63 79 16 20.25%
Bob Forsch 1975 25 73 89 16 17.98% John Curtis 1975 27 56 70 14 20.00%
Ron Reed 1975 32 63 79 16 20.25% Ray Washburn 1968 30 54 67 13 19.40%
Rick Wise 1973 27 97 113 16 14.16% Silvio Martinez 1979 23 75 92 17 18.48%
Roger Craig 1964 34 60 76 16 21.05% John Denny 1976 23 58 71 13 18.31%
Larry Jackson 1962 31 105 121 16 13.22% Lew Burdette 1963 36 41 50 9 18.00%
Bob Forsch 1983 33 89 104 15 14.42% Bob Forsch 1975 25 73 89 16 17.98%
Pete Vuckovich 1979 26 93 108 15 13.89% John Denny 1975 22 60 73 13 17.81%
Nelson Briles 1969 25 89 104 15 14.42% Ernie Broglio 1961 25 80 97 17 17.53%
Bob Gibson 1961 25 76 91 15 16.48% Bob Gibson 1961 25 76 91 15 16.48%

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the above tables.

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