The Pittsburgh Pirates return home for a three-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies.
In tonight’s game Francisco Liriano will face Jon Gray.
Liriano is 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts. In his last start he won against the San Francisco Giants allowing two runs [neither earned] on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work. The Pirates have won each of Liriano’s last 10 starts this matches their second-longest in the last 44 years in games started by a particular pitcher. The Pirates won 12 consecutive games started by A.J. Burnett [2012] and 10 from John Candelaria [1983].
Gray is the Rockies’ 2013 first-round draft pick and was selected third overall. This is his fifth career start and second on the road. In his previous road start, he allowed one run on one hit in six innings. In Gray’s last start, he had a no-decision against the New York Mets allowing seven runs on eight hits in 1.2 innings.
Seventh inning stretch: The Pirates had two triples during the first two months of the season, however since June 2, the Pirates have 22 triples which ranks fourth in the National League.
Gregory Polanco leads the Pirates with six triples and to the surprise of some, Francisco Cervelli is second with five.
“We just want to take the extra base and run hard every time,” Starling Marte said. “We feel good and we don’t want to try to do too much, just play the game. We just play the game every day and we don’t look at the standings.”
Though he is not an offensive player, Jared Hughes also noticed this trend from his bullpen seat.
“Maybe it’s the hitter’s timing and how they’re able to get the ball into the gaps a little more now,” said Hughes. “It could be the scouting reports of the opposing teams outfielders. If you look at the top of our lineup, we’ve got some guys who can really run. [Cervelli] is super aggressive and he wants to keep running and scoring runs. He’s fast for a catcher.”
In his pregame press conference today, manager Clint Hurdle discussed his catcher position in relation to Cervelli’s ejection in yesterday’s game.
“That’s a hard line to cross because if something happens to [Chris] Stewart in the next inning, there’s a good chance we don’t win that game,” Hurdle said. “Everybody is going to love passion and fighting for their guys and we understand that.”
Stewart did not come into the game cold since both catchers did meet with pitching coach Ray Searage which meant everyone was on the same plan and a game plan was in place.
Bottom of the ninth: If there has been a so called knock on the Pirates, one of them is that they at times have not maintained the level of play against tougher opponents as opposed to below .500 team. The Pirates have made strides towards improving this and that includes taking three of four games on the road against the Miami Marlins.
“You see how we play every game and try to put pressure on the other team,” said Marte. “When we hit a ground ball or fly ball we want to run hard to the base every time. If we’re on base, steal and take the extra base. Sometimes you play the game as hard as you can and you don’t win. If you play the game hard and win, that good, if not we don’t.”
A.J. Burnett [right elbow inflammation] is scheduled to throw another simulated game Sunday with the goal being three innings… With a 77-49 record the Pirates are 28 games over .500 prior to September for the first time since 1972… Marte is hitting .421 in eight career games against the Rockies… Pedro Alvarez now has 125 career home runs with the Pirates which ranks 14th on the team’s all-time list. Richie Hebner [128] currently is in 13th place… The Rockies are 14-11 against National League Central opponents this season, however are 39-53 lifetime when playing in Pittsburgh.
Photo credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
