After losing centerfielder Andrew McCutchen with one out in the first inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates responded with a five-run first offensive outburst in the bottom of the first en route to an 8-4 victory.
“I think it was a real nice push for our guys to answer in that fashion,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
McCutchen left the game after he was hit by a pitch in the left elbow.
In the first inning, Neil Walker started a string of seven consecutive Pirates that reached base. McCutchen was replaced on the bases by Jung Ho Kang. Starling Marte singled home a run and Pedro Alvarez had a bases clearing double. Francisco Cervelli added an RBI single, Gregory Polanco walked and Jordy Mercer had an RBI single. The Pirates batted around in the inning against Braves starter Julio Teheran [5-4].
Charlie Morton [6-1] did not surrender a run until the third inning when Nick Markakis singled in Cameron Maybin who doubled with one out in the inning.
The Pirates countered in the fifth inning. Marte and Alvarez each singled. With two outs, Alvarez got caught in a run down on the base paths. During this process Marte stole home, the throw came to Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski however Marte slid in safely. It was the first double steal for the Pirates since 2013 and Alvarez’s first steal of the season. Hurdle stated that it was a set play.
“You have to go with what you believe will go and you have to be bold and aggressive,” Hurdle said. “You believe in your guys and then challenge them to make plays and do things.”
From Mercer’s vantage point he saw the wet field and played his part in the decision.
“We’ve worked on it and we’ve practiced it and to see it actually work and in perfect conditions too was awesome,” said Mercer.
Morton attempted to go back out in the seventh inning but ran into trouble. Joey Terdoslavich, Andrelton Simmons and pinch-hitter Eury Perez all reached base. Despite a Ray Searage mound conversation, Jace Peterson hit a bases clearing double to bring the Braves to within two runs.
Morton lasted six-plus innings and allowed the four runs on 10 hits while striking out six batters. He threw 101 pitches and 71 of those were strikes.
The high point of his outing was the 11 consecutive batters he retired. A rain delay interrupted the middle of this streak however he was able to keep it going.
“I came up and was able to throw in the tunnel and on the field, so I did quite a bit of throwing during the delay and was able to stay warm,” Morton said.
The Pirates added to their lead in the seventh inning. Cervelli and Mercer each picked up a second RBI on the game with a double and a single respectively.
Arquimedes Caminero got an out in relief after Morton departed the game and then Antonio Bastardo pitched 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings. It was his second longest outing of the season. Bastardo entered the game with a 1.13 ERA in June.
Deolis Guerra made his major league debut pitching in the ninth inning.
With this win, the Pirates have earned a series win for the 12th time this season. A victory on Sunday would be the ninth sweep of the season.
Jeff Locke [4-3 4.73 ERA] will pitch for the Pirates against Alex Wood [4-5 3.44 ERA]. Locke is 1-1 with a 6.07 ERA in five career starts against his former team.
He said it:
“Nothing happened, you saw everything. The grass was too wet and the dirt was soft. That happened, but I’m okay.” – Starling Marte on his slide in the seventh inning
Photo credit: JK Aller/Getty Images
