Editing Darryl Kile (section)

== Early life ==
Kile was born on December 2, 1968, in [[Garden Grove, California]], near [[Angel Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chass |first1=Murray |title=Darryl Kile, a Pitcher for the Cardinals, Is Dead at 33 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/24/sports/darryl-kile-a-pitcher-for-the-cardinals-is-dead-at-33.html |access-date=July 17, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 24, 2002}}</ref> He attended [[Norco High School]] in [[Norco, California]], where his awkward frame and low pitch velocity — his [[four-seam fastball]] topping out at {{convert|78|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} — meant that he was mostly overlooked by college recruiters and [[Scout (sports)|scouts]]. In 1987, after graduating from Norco, Kile enrolled at [[Chaffey Junior College]] in [[Rancho Cucamonga, California]], and joined their [[college baseball]] team as a [[Walk-on (sports)|walk-on]]. Between his freshman and sophomore year of college, Kile underwent a [[growth spurt]] that took him from {{convert|6|ft|2|in}} to {{convert|6|ft|5|in}}, helped him gain {{convert|20|lbs}}, and added {{convert|13|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} to his fastball.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Maryann |title=Norco's Kile Remembers When |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-04-sp-20102-story.html |access-date=July 17, 2021 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 4, 1993}}</ref>

===Houston Astros===
Kile was selected by the [[Houston Astros]] in the 30th round of the [[1987 Major League Baseball draft|1987 Major League draft]]. Having been successful with the [[Tucson Sidewinders|Tucson Toros]], the Astros' [[minor league baseball|AAA club]] in the [[Pacific Coast League]], Kile entered the majors in 1991, going 7–11 in 22 starts. In his first major league start on April 24, 1991, Kile had a [[no-hitter]] going when he was lifted after six innings by manager [[Art Howe]], who wanted to protect the 22-year-old rookie's arm. Kile's breakthrough year came in 1993 when he went 15–8 with a 3.51 [[earned run average]] and made the [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team. On September 8, Kile pitched a [[no-hitter]] against the [[New York Mets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09080HOU1993.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Houston Astros 7, New York Mets 1|website=www.retrosheet.org|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> He pitched seven seasons with the Astros, mostly as a starter. Another strong season was 1997, when he went 19–7, compiled a 2.57 ERA, made the All-Star team again, threw a career-high {{frac|255|2|3}} [[innings pitched|innings]], and pitched four [[shutouts in baseball|shutout]]s. He finished fifth in voting for the NL [[Cy Young Award]]. Kile made his first postseason appearance in Game 1 of the [[1997 National League Division Series]] against the [[1997 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]], giving up only two hits but suffering a hard-luck 2–1 loss. Atlanta swept [[1997 Houston Astros season|Houston]] in the best-of-five series.

===Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals===
In 1998, Kile signed with the [[Colorado Rockies]] as a free agent. Kile suffered control problems, allowing hitters to lay off his curveball. After two seasons in which he was a combined 21–30 and posted ERAs of 5.20 and 6.61, Kile was traded to the Cardinals. In his first season with St. Louis, Kile went 20–9, becoming the first Cardinal pitcher since [[John Tudor (baseball)|John Tudor]] and [[Joaquín Andújar]] in 1985 to win 20 games in a season. He made his third All-Star team and again finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting. He earned the first playoff victory of his career in Game 2 of the [[2000 National League Division Series|2000 NLDS]] against Atlanta, but suffered two losses in the [[2000 National League Championship Series|NL Championship Series]], which the Cardinals lost to the Mets in five games.

Kile went 16–11 in 2001, and the Cardinals made the playoffs again, losing to the eventual world champion [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] in the [[2001 National League Division Series|NLDS]]. Kile was the starting pitcher for Game 3 and received a no-decision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200110120.shtml|title=2001 National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 3, Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals, October 12, 2001|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref> Kile threw {{frac|227|1|3}} innings and compiled a 3.09 ERA that season, despite having an injured shoulder which required surgery after the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs. He spent the offseason rehabilitating and was ready for the start of the 2002 season. In 12 seasons as a major league pitcher, Kile never went on the disabled list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2040650&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627033034/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2040650&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2007|title=Kile's impact felt five years later|date=June 21, 2007|access-date=August 5, 2009|first=Matthew|last=Leach|work=MLB.com}}</ref>

On June 18, Kile pitched in an interleague game against the [[Anaheim Angels]], scattering six hits over {{Frac|7|2|3}} innings, allowing one run. He exited the game in the eighth inning to a standing ovation. Kile and the Cardinals won the game, 7–2, and moved into first place in the NL's [[National League Central|Central Division]], a spot they held for the rest of the 2002 season.