The Pittsburgh Pirates struck first in a road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks winning 4-1. This is the first road contest following a 10-game home stand, which ties a season high.
Pirates starter Gerrit Cole [3-0] earned the win pitching 7.2 innings while allowing seven hits, a run, two walks and seven strikeouts. Cole threw 108 pitches, 78 for strikes – a 72.2 percent strike rate. It was Cole’s longest outing since May 7 last season.
“He was crisp and his pitch count was in better than a good pace,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Gregory Polanco reached base in the first inning by fielder’s choice and stole second base, his sixth of the season. Polanco ranks third in Major League Baseball in stolen bases. An Andrew McCutchen fly out advanced Polanco to third and then Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single.
An additional two runs were added in the second inning. Josh Collmenter [1-3] recorded the first two outs, however the Pirates had two consecutive singles as Jordy Mercer and Cole reached base. Harrison brought both home with a double but was out when he attempted to reach third base.
In the sixth inning Chris Owings hit a single that was stopped by Walker. Paul Goldschmidt advanced from third and Walker’s throw was a three hopper that Cervelli could not grab in time. Hurdle challenged the play. Home plate umpire Tony Randazzo’s initially ruled that Cervelli had transferred the ball from glove to bare hand thus making the tag late. This call was upheld.
The Pirates added a run in the eighth inning when Walker’s double scored McCutchen who walked.
Jared Hughes recorded the final out of the eighth inning by strikeout and Mark Melancon pitched the ninth inning needing nine pitched to earn his second consecutive save and fourth of the season.
This victory puts the Pirates with a record over .500 for the first time this season.
These two teams will play again at 8:40 p.m Saturday as A.J. Burnett [0-1 2.00 ERA] takes on Rubby De La Rosa [2-1 6.00]. Burnett is 4-3 with a 4.08 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched against the Diamondbacks. Burnett pitched eight scoreless innings in his lone start against the team last season. This will be De La Rosa’s first ever start against the Pirates.
Photo courtesy: Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
