Pittsburgh Pirates fans have seen this script before. A pitcher with a high ERA holding the Pirates at bay and stealing a series win. That would not be the case Sunday, as one swing of the bat changed the course of the game and re-energized the Pirates bats en route to a 10-2 victory Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Andrew McCutchen’s three-run home run was his second of the season and came on the first pitch of his at-bat against Kyle Lohse [0-2] which scored both Gregory Polanco and Jordy Mercer in the seventh inning.
The Pirates managed eight hits in its second victory of the season. Tony Sanchez led the Pirates offense in hitting with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate reaching base in his final at-bat by error. Sanchez’s three hits were all singles and bring his batting average to .429 on the season. Sanchez continues his hitting tear from Spring Training where he batted .364.
Scoring for this game began in the third inning. Sanchez started the inning with a single and advanced 90 feet when pitcher Casey Sadler [1-0] successfully got a sacrifice bunt down. The next batter, Polanco who was batting lead-off due to Josh Harrison getting the afternoon off, singled off a 2-1 sinker to score Sanchez.
Milwaukee however took the lead half an inning later when Hector Gomez doubled to left field and two batters later, Carlos Gomez belted his first home run to left-center field. This remained the score until the sixth inning.
Sadler’s start ended after five innings and 77 pitches, 51 of which were strikes. Sadler allowed four hits, two runs, walked a batter and struck out five, putting his ERA at 3.60. Sadler received the win since the Pirates three-run sixth inning came before Jared Hughes took the mound in the bottom half of the frame.
McCutchen’s home run came after being out of Saturday’s line up because of left knee soreness. McCutchen took himself out prior to the team coming out to play defense in the ninth inning.
Jared Hughes had a clean inning both walking and striking out a batter. Arquimedes Caminero got into a jam in his inning of work allowing a hit and walk but also striking out a batter. With Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett on base, Gerardo Parra hit a pinch-hit pop up and Carlos Gomez grounded out ending the threat.
After Tony Watson set the Brewers down in order, the Pirates bats went to work once again in the ninth inning with Tyler Thornburg on the mound. Pedro Alvarez used a two-strike approach to hit a single to the opposite field. Sean Rodriguez pinch-ran for Alvarez and advanced to second after a hard hit Sanchez sinking line drive was dropped by Davis.
Corey Hart came in to pinch hit for the second time this season and much like Saturday, received an ovation from the Miller Park fans, who remembered the contributions he made for the Brewers. This time however, he helped the Pirates with a bouncing single just over the outstretched glove of first baseman Adam Lind. Though the next batter, Polanco, struck out, the inning was far from done.
Mercer then connected on an RBI single, the first of three consecutive hits. McCutchen would follow with his fourth RBI of the game, a single which scored Hart. Finally, Neil Walker hit his first home run of the season over the right field wall to knock Thornburg out of the game. Neal Cotts was brought in to get the final out.
Radhames Liz made his second relief appearance of the season and walked one batter while striking two batters including Gennett to end the game.
Monday is the Pirates home opener which is set to start at 1:35 p.m against the Detroit Tigers. Gerrit Cole [0-0 5.40] earns the nod for the Pirates and Anibal Sanchez [1-0 0.00] will do the same for the Tigers. The Pirates are 73-55 overall in home opening games and 5-9 at PNC Park.
Notebook: Gates for Monday’s Home Opener will open at 11:30 with pregame ceremonies set to commence at 12:45. This will be the first game that all gates will enter the ballpark through the new ballpark upright metal detectors… Francisco Liriano is expected to join the team in Pittsburgh Monday after being placed on the bereavement list due to the birth of his daughter.
Photo credit: Gene J. Puskar/AP
