To an ace, achieving the minimum requirements of a quality start earns the merit of a participation ribbon.
For a quality start — the statistic, not the plaudit — a starter must go at least six innings and allow three or fewer earned runs. But the way Jack Flaherty looked at his April 19 outing — he only went six innings. And he allowed two earned runs — that’s two more than desired.
And so, he scoffed at the notion of accomplishing a quality start.
