Andrew McCutchen took a 2-2 pitch into the right-centerfield seats in the bottom of the 12th inning to walk off the Pirates to victory, Tuesday night.
The win snapped a five game home losing streak to the Brew Crew who have tortured the Pirates both at PNC Park and Miller Park over the last five years.
“It just seems like everything goes their way every time we play them. Being able to fight and being able to win is definitely a plus,” said a relieved-looking Andrew McCutchen.
Jean Segura kicked off the scoring with a solo shot in the top of the first inning on the second pitch he saw from Jeff Locke. Segura pulled Locke’s fastball and crushed it into the bleacher seats beyond the left field wall. Locke would settle down striking out Ryan Braun and getting Aramis Ramirez to fly out to end the inning.
The Pirates matched Milwaukee’s run in the bottom of the inning. After back to back singles from Starling Marte and Jose Tabata, Andrew McCutchen flew out to deep center which allowed Marte to advance to third. Garret Jones was able to work a 3-2 count before grounding out to second base. With Tabata running on the play, second baseman Rickie Weeks only had a play at first, nixing the double play and allowing Marte to score from third.
Locke retired six of the next seven Brewers, striking out four in the process before allowing a run in the top of the fourth. Ryan Braun led off with a double down the left field line and Carlos Gomez drove him home with a one out double to right.
In the top of the fifth, Norichika Aoki hit Locke in the lower leg with a come backer. Locke was checked out by trainers and remained in the game but his next two pitches were wild and allowed Aoki to advance to third. Locke was nearly struck again by Jean Segura on a line drive up the middle that scored Aoki. Walker fielded the ball and assisted on the 4-3 putout to get Segura at first. Braun was caught stealing to end the inning and the Brewers streak of 21 consecutive stolen bases against the Pirates.
Neil Walker led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and was advanced to third on a one out double from Russell Martin. Walker scored on a fielder’s choice by Clint Barmes who was called out on a very close play. Gaby Sanchez pinch hit to end Locke’s night and Kyle Lohse walked Sanchez to end his night. Burke Badenhop got Marte to flyout to end the threat in the sixth.
After the heart of the order went down in succession, the Pirates tied the game in the eighth. Neil Walker led of with a single against John Axford. After Pedro Alvarez went down on strikes for the third time of the game, Russell Martin doubled down the left field line. Walker scored from first as Jean Segura’s relay throw was way off line. Barmes grounded out to third and Travis Snider, pinch hiting for Bryan Morris, went down on strikes to end the inning.
After Jason Grilli struck out the side in the top half of the ninth, Jose Tabata hit a one out double. The Brewers intentionally walked McCutchen, but Garret Jones grounded into a 6-3 double play to end the threat in the ninth.
In the 11th inning, home plate umpire Fielden Culbreth took a foul ball to the collarbone and left the game, replaced by Bill Welke. Vin Mazzaro threw a scoreless 11th for Pittsburgh and Ryan Braun made a highlight catch on John McDonald’s hit down the line.
“Mazzaro was out there and if we didn’t get [the run] he was going to go back out there for another inning,” said Clint Hurdle. The Pirates did have Jose Contreras available but Tony Watson and Justin Wilson were not.
McDonald was replaced at short by Brandon Inge after he hurt his back in the previous inning.
With the Brewers turning to their last available pitcher, Mike Fiers, Andrew McCutchen crushed a 2-2 fastball into the seats in right-centerfield for the walk-off homerun on Pittsburgh’s first extra-inning game of the season.
“I hit the crap out of the ball and it went nowhere,” said Andrew McCutchen who saw his first two swings look well on their way out before dying at the warning track, “Just gotta keep going out and keep playing.”
Meanwhile, Jeff Locke posted his second straight quality start, allowing just three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision bid. The 25 year old lefty has a 3-1 record with a 3.15 ERA this season.
“He makes pitches and he competes out there. And today…he was able to mix in some breaking balls and turn their [Brewers’] aggressiveness against them,” said Russell Martin.
The Pirates can at least guarantee a series split if they win tomorrow night. Wandy Rodriguez will take the mound against Yovani Gallardo.
Photo courtesy of Yahoo! sports
