The Pittsburgh Pirates moved to 27 games over .500 for the first time since 1992 with a 5-2 victory Monday night against the Miami Marlins.
Andrew McCutchen played in the 1,000th game of his major league career and had two RBI when he hit his 30th double of the season in the third inning. His double put the Pirates in front by a 2-0 score.
J.A. Happ [2-1] has now allowed one run in his last 19 innings of work, an ERA of 0.47. He allowed no runs on four hits and has allowed just six hits in his last 12 innings.
The Pirates made Tom Koehler [8-12] expend a lot of pitches and, for the second consecutive start, he walked four batters. His inconsistency nearly resulted in him not making it through the fifth inning.
Koehler had his back to the wall several times during his outing. He allowed a leadoff first inning double from Gregory Polanco and walks to Neil Walker and Francisco Cervelli to open the fourth inning before stranding both runners and perhaps his biggest escape, which was getting out of a no-out bases loaded jam unscathed.
In that jam, Koehler allowed another double to Polanco, a walk to Starling Marte and a single to McCutchen, which loaded the bases. Jung Ho Kang then came up and hit a 2-2 pitch to Martin Prado at third base. Prado threw home to record one out and then catcher J.T. Realmuto threw to first to double up Kang. After a walk to Walker, Cervelli had a first-pitch pop up to end the threat.
Brian Ellington relieved Koehler in the seventh inning and opened his outing by hitting Marte with the first pitch he threw. A suspicious Marte slowly jogged to first base. Ellington then threw a wild pitch, allowing Marte to go to scoring position. McCutchen then hit a deep fly ball which was caught by Marcell Ozuna, much to the surprise of the Pirates center fielder. Marte advanced to third base on the play and, two batters later, he scored on a Walker sacrifice fly.
Happ was replaced by Jared Hughes in the seventh inning. Ozuna promptly greeted him with a double, his 17th of the season. Two batters later, he scored on a Realmuto ground out.
Erik Cordier came in to pitch the eighth inning for the Marlins and faced Sean Rodriguez. His first pitch was well inside and the second hit Rodriguez. Home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg ejected Cordier from the game.
Instead of responding with words, the Pirates responded with their bats. Scott McGough replaced Cordier and, with two outs, allowed Polanco to hit an RBI single.
The Marlins pitching troubles continued in the ninth inning when former Pirate Bryan Morris walked four batters in an inning, including Jordy Mercer, which brought a runner home.
Antonio Bastardo started the bottom of the ninth inning, but after allowing two consecutive singles to lead off the frame, Mark Melancon was brought into the game, since it had become a save situation.
Realmuto grounded into what appeared to be a double play, however, after a challenge, it was ruled a fielder’s choice, which allowed Ozuna to score. Adeiny Hechavarria was next to hit and grounded into a game-ending double play. The save was Melancon’s 40th of the season, tying Joel Hanrahan for the third-most saves by a Pirate in a single season.
Melancon’s 40th save is good enough for the Major League lead and Tony Watson, who pitched the eighth inning, earned his league-leading 32nd hold.
This series continues Tuesday when Charlie Morton [8-4 4.06 ERA] faces Brad Hand [3-3 4.46 ERA]. Morton is 6-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 11 career starts against the Marlins.
He said it: “I think the Pirates have good enough arms and enough experience to beat any team. In some way they remind me of the 04 Sox, always close to.” – Pedro Martinez on Twitter
Photo credit: Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo
