The Pirates catcher went 4-5 in the victory (Flickr.com/Keith Allison)
Michael McKenry had a career best four hits in a game that saw Pittsburgh get on base 17 times in a 7-4 win over the Miami Marlins.
McKenry, filling in for an injured Russell Martin, went 4-5 and drove in two off singles in the first and third. The fan-favorite catcher doubled in the 5th and singled in the 7th.
One day after being blanked, the Pirates put up a three spot before Miami ever came to the plate. They had a 1-0 lead two batters in following back-to-back doubles by Starling Marte and Neil Walker. Garrett Jones brought in Walker on a two out double and McKenry recorded his first hit, driving in Jones to take a 3-0 lead.
Miami would get one off starter Charlie Morton in the bottom of the first on a Donovan Solano RBI single.
Pittsburgh seemed to be back in control in the top of the third. Walker and Andrew McCutchen led off the inning with singles. After a Pedro Alvarez sacrifice to move the runners in scoring position, Garrett Jones beat out an infield single to score Walker. Two pitches later, McKenry came up big again, driving in McCutchen to put Pittsburgh up 5-1.
The Marlins battled back in the bottom half of the third. A single from recent call-up Christian Yelich landed him on second after a McCutchen mis-play. Gincarlo Stanton hurt the Bucs again, doubling to left to cut it to a 5-2 lead. Logan Morrison singled to left on the next pitch. Starling Marte had a chance to throw out Stanton at the plate but the sailed it over home plate, putting Morrison at second. Two batters latter, Placido Polanco drove Morrison in to cut the Buccos lead to one, 5-4.
Morton lasted five innings, picking up the win and allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out six and hit a batter, leaving the game a bit disappointed.
“Command wasn’t good. There were some pitches I’d love to have back. Stuff was average.”
Hurdle echoed a similar sentiment.
“I don’t think he ever got into a really good rhythm. The sinker was inconsistent, it was up. All the pitches were come and go. Some of the breaking balls were good, some looped and hung. We didn’t help him defensively either.”
With two out in the 5th, Miami threatened to tie the game. But Morton got Polanco to strike out, a rare feat, to end the inning. A few pitches earlier in the same at bat, The Fort saved a run, diving out to catch a ball thrown behind Polanco.
“It’s the second time he’s caught a ball behind the hitter this year. I don’t know how you do it. He’s been very, very good for us. He had a lot of value behind the plate tonight, working with each one of those pitchers,” Hurdle said after the game.
Pittsburgh would add another in the sixth when Walker picked up his second RBI of the day, doubling in Marte, giving the Pirates a 6-4 advantage. The final run would come in the 8th. McCutchen would race in for a triple and Pedro Alvarez singled off left hander Dan Jennings to bring him in in the next at bat. It was the Pirates’ 6th hit with RISP.
“Walker was real good to see. We’ve seen him do it. He can get hot. Getting him involved in the offense would be a welcome,” Hurdle stated.
Marlins’ starter Tom Koehler was rocked, taking the loss after allowing five earned on nine hits through five frames.
McKenry injured his left knee attempting to break up a double play in the seventh. Josh Harrison sported a catcher’s mask before McKenry just barely made it back onto the field for the start of the 7th. The Buccos’ catcher remained in the game the rest of the way but in obvious pain, unable to get out of the batter’s box on his 9th inning groundout. This, despite Hurlder’s advice not to swing.
“He had a similar tweak in his knee that Russell had. So we tried to encourage him to go up take three and come on back,” the Pirates’ skipper admitted after the game.
The Pirates’ bullpen pitched four innings of two hit, no run ball. Mark Melancon picked up his 4th save of the season. Hurdle was again impressed by the bullpen.
“[Justin]Wilson was very good tonight. He gave us some length that we needed.”
The Pirates and Marlins will play the rubber game Sunday afternoon at 1:10. Two young phenoms will take the mound. Gerrit Cole (5-3, 3.51 ERA) will face Marlins’ All-Star Jose Fernandez (6-5, 2.74 ERA).
NOTES: The Pirates move to 61-41, 1.5 back of St. Louis…In games he’s started since June 16th, McKenry is hitting .294 (10-34)…McKenry, Jones, McCutchen, Walker, and Marte all had multi-hit games…Polacno has only struck out 23 times in 278 ABs this season…Jordy Mercer’s hitting streak ended after an 0-3 performance tonight.
