Pittsburgh Pirates fans have been hard on Jeff Locke at times this season and tonight’s four-inning outing as part of a 7-1 loss to the San Diego Padres will not help the pitcher’s case.
Locke [3-3] allowed all seven runs [six of which were earned] on eight hits while throwing 89 pitches. In two career starts against the Padres Locke has allowed 10 earned runs in nine innings of work while posting an 0-2 record.
The Padres scored at least one run in each inning Locke pitched, which allowed them to even the four-game series between the two teams.
Jedd Gyorko had a two run single in the first inning, Derek Norris reached base because of a Pedro Alvarez fielding error a frame later, Will Middlebrooks hit his seventh homer of the season to score two additional runs in the third inning. Clint Barmes also contributed in the third with an RBI single part of a three-hit day for him which allowed the former Pirate to reach 900 career hits. A Middlebrooks sacrifice fly an inning later concluded the Padres scoring.
Gregory Polanco scored the only Pirates run of the game which came in the top of the seventh inning on a 1-0 changeup. It was his third homer of the season and second this series.
Vance Worley pitched the rest of the game and allowed no runs on five hits while throwing 70 pitches. Since becoming the Pirates long relief pitcher, Worley has allowed no runs on six hits in eight innings. His four strikeouts are the most he’s thrown since May 3.
Worley did have a test with the Padres loading the bases in the ninth inning and one out however Middlebrooks flew out and Starling Marte who moved to center field as a defensive replacement for Andrew McCutchen caught the ball and his throw was in time to tag out Norris.
The Pirates conclude May with a 14-14 record and have an overall record of 26-24.
Monday marks the start of June baseball and a continuation of the West Coast road trip when the Pirates face the San Francisco Giants. Gerrit Cole [7-2 2.11 ERA] will face Ryan Vogelsong [4-2 4.24 ERA]. Cole made his major league debut against the Giants and has a 2-0 record with a 3.14 ERA in two career starts.
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
