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Jerad Eickhoff Knew His Season Would Get Better After Slow Start

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- 26-year-old Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff has found his groove.

After a slow start to the season, the right-hander is 4-2 in his last seven starts, allowing just 11 earned runs in 44 innings. After Monday's five hit, two earned run, and eight strikeout outing in 7.2 innings against the Atlanta Braves, Eickhoff improved his era to 3.30.

Eickhoff says his teammates and coaches were patient with his April struggles due to a thumb injury.

Listen: Jerad Eickhoff on the 94WIP Morning Show

 

"They were confident," Eickhoff told the 94WIP Morning Show of his teammates and coaches on his slow start. "They understood what I was going through. I was kind of getting off of that thumb injury in Spring Training. It didn't seem like much, but going through just the delivery standpoint -- just getting started a little later in Spring Training and out of Spring Training. It was kind of a challenge to make sure I get back to that rhythm and that timing and my delivery. And they understood all of that and it's part of the process. It was a challenge, but like I said, it was something I knew I would overcome."

Eickhoff was acquired by the Phillies from the Texas Rangers in July of 2015, as a part of the Cole Hamels deal. On Tuesday, another young arm acquired in that trade -- 22-year-old Zach Eflin -- pitched a complete game in just his fifth Major League start on Tuesday.

"I think it's great," Eickhoff said of Eflin's complete game outing on Tuesday, in which Eflin allowed just six hits and one earned run. "Friendly competition in the clubhouse is good. It generates a competitive team and a winning team. So, it was really cool to watch him last night. He put on a show and just got a lot of quick outs. It was fun to watch. It's every pitcher's dream to throw a complete game and he was able to do that in just a handful of starts. It was really, really cool to be a part of."

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