Charlie Morton continued where Edinson Volquez left off last night with 5 2/3 innings of five-hit, one-run ball and Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the Pirates 4-3 victory over the Nationals on Friday night.
Morton avoided the big inning three times on the night in the first, third and sixth. In the first, he walked back-to-back batters with two out before getting a groundout. In the third he got a double play ball with runners on the corners and one out and in the sixth with the bases loaded he gave up a sac fly before striking out Zach Walters for the third time. Jared Hughes then came in to get the final out on a Nate McLouth grounder back to the pitcher.
“I don’t think I pitched great tonight,” said Morton. “I think I pitched pretty well. Limited the guys that got on from scoring and we won.”
By the time Morton gave up his first run of the night, the Pirates already had four in his favor thanks to two-run innings in the second and fourth. Ike Davis singled to start the second and Russell Martin — in his first at bat off of the DL — doubled setting up second and third. After a Pedro Alvarez strikeout, Starling Marte grounded out to short scoring Davis. Martin followed him home on a wild pitch during the next at bat.
Runs three and four came off of the bat of Alvarez in the fourth when he followed Davis second single of the night with a home run into the bushes. It was Pedro’s first game in the sixth spot of the lineup and he didn’t waste time settling in.
“This might open some things up for Pedro and we’ll see where it goes from there,” said Hurdle. “This lineup looks good. Tonight, it was nice to get that lineup out on the field.”
The game — as it has been all season — was far from over at 4-1 as the bullpen made things interesting late. Justin Wilson loaded the bases with one out in his second inning of work in the eighth before being relieved by Bryan Morris. Morris then allowed a sac fly and a run to score by a passed ball before stabbing a chopper up the middle to end the inning up 4-3.
Jason Grilli came in to work the ninth fresh off of the DL and made things uneasy for Pirate fans as he walked the tying run to start the inning. He recovered by striking out Jason Werth before getting deep fly outs, the last to a leaping Josh Harrison at the Clemente wall to end the game.
“I felt great, just to be in the action, just to have Russ back in,” said Grilli. “We’re all together again…Nobody wanted to be in there more than Russ and I tonight, just to get into the battle with these guys. They’ve been holding it down as best they can and doing a fine job. To get back in there and get in the action, I think I got back in the groove right away.”
Final Score: Pirates 4, Nationals 3
Starters Lines
Morton (W, 1-6): 5 2/3 IN, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K’s, 1 HBP. 108 Pitches (64 Strikes).
Zimmerman (L, 3-2): 6 IN, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K’s, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1 HR. 104 Pitches (69 Strikes).
The Pirates will look to lock up a series victory tomorrow night in the third game of the four-game set.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(RHP) Gerrit Cole (PIT): 4-3, 3.84 ERA
(RHP) Stephen Strasburg (WAS): 3-3, 3.83 ERA
First pitch on FOX is set for 7:15.
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
