Strolling into the ballpark today, the young James Santelli tweeted that today was the biggest day in Pittsburgh baseball since 1992. While you may agree or disagree (I’m the latter), today’s doubleheader with the Cardinals just a half-game up on the Pirates was a pretty big deal. Wasting no time, the Pirates and Cardinals skipped desert and went straight to the entree with A.J. Burnett and Lance Lynn both putting on a show in the Pirates 2-1 extra-inning win.
Neither pitcher recorded a decision, but both were mightily impressive. Lynn went six innings, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out seven. Burnett was superior to Lynn as he gave up just one run on three hits, while striking out nine over seven innings.
“It’s always fun going against them. They’re the team to beat,” Burnett said. “It’s a big series. Emotions are on the line left and right.”
As has been the story as of late, the Pirates got the offense going early, but were silenced for the majority of the game. After a two-out double by Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez does what he does best during the day – drives in runs. Alvarez hit a two-out double himself to allow the Pirates to break through first.
The Cardinals broke through against Burnett and the Pirates in the third inning, as Pete Kozma was able to cross the plate after Matt Holliday grounded out with the bases loaded. Burnett was able to escape danger with just the lone run crossing the plate.
“I just approached it one at a time,” Burnett said. “You have to regroup and make a pitch. It’s one pitch at a time.”
All was quiet until an interesting turn of events in the sixth inning. Jon Jay stepped to the dish and struck out swinging. After his swing, the ball hit Jay and trickled away. Using his heads up base running, Jay was able to advance to second on the strikeout, wild pitch, while Burnett and Russell Martin argued the call.
After a brief exchange, play resumed. When Holliday stepped to the plate, home plate umpire Eric Cooper started charging the mound exchanging unpleasantries with Burnett. Burnett would strand Jay at second to make the call moot.
“I don’t think they wanted to talk to me very much,” Burnett said with a smile. “They didn’t see it. We’re all human and we make mistakes.”
With both pitching staffs dealing, neither team could capitalize within the nine frames. With a doubleheader in tow, of course the teams would go extra-innings in game one.
The extra frames were relatively quiet, until the Pirates came to bat in the 11th inning. After back-to-back one-out walks to Martin and Gaby Sanchez, Alex Presley stepped to the dish. Presley took the 3-2 pitch from Kevin Siegrist the opposite way for the walk-off victory.
Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said following the walk-off and throughout the game, he was impressed with the atmosphere.
“It’s awesome,” Hurdle said. “This is a great baseball town.”
The win puts the Pirates in first place in the National League Central. Brandon Cumpton and Tyler Lyons will take the mounds for their respective teams in game two.
