Jeff Locke recovered from his bad outing in St. Louis to throw seven innings of one-run ball and the Pirates lumber remained hot with a four-run eighth propelling the Bucs to their fourth straight win, a 6-4 victory over the Phillies.
Locke retired the first ten batters he faced before experiencing trouble in the fourth. Ryan Howard hit a two-out single to put the Phillies (66-77) on the board. Marlon Byrd followed with a double putting runners on second and third, but Locke was able to retire Darin Ruf via strikeout — one of his nine on the night– to end the frame.
The strikeout of Ruf began another streak of ten consecutive retired for Locke to end his night after the seventh.
The Pirates (75-68) gave Locke the lead in the fifth when Starling Marte sent a Kyle Kendrick sinker over the left-center field wall for a two-run shot and a 2-1 lead.
They added on in the eighth against Kendrick and reliever Jake Diekman. Neil Walker, Gaby Sanchez, Jordy Mercer and Brent Morel all recorded RBI in the inning giving the Pirates a 6-1 cushion.
That cushion proved to be vital as the Phillies bats awakened against Jared Hughes in the bottom of the eighth. A one-out single, hit batsman and fielding error loaded the bases forcing manager Clint Hurdle to go to left-handed ace Tony Watson. Watson allowed a sacrifice fly and 2 RBI triple to bring Philadelphia to within 6-4.
That was the closest the Phillies got, however, as Watson got Byrd to ground out to end the inning. Mark Melancon (27th Save) pitched a perfect ninth to close things out.
Final Score: Pirates 6, Phillies 4.
The win along with losses to the Brewers and Braves has moved the Pirates ahead of both teams by 1 1/2 for the second National League Wild Card spot. San Francisco was off allowing the Pirates to move to within three games of the first Wild Card position. St. Louis defeated Cincinnati to keep a 4 1/2 game lead in the NL Central race.
Starters Lines
Locke (W, 7-4): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 K’s. 92 Pitches (67 Strikes).
Kendrick (L, 8-12): 7 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 8 K’s, 1 HR. 118 Pitches (79 Strikes).
These two will be back at it tomorrow night in the second game of the four-game set.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(RHP) Edinson Volquez (PIT): 11-7, 3.31 ERA
(RHP) David Buchanan (PHI): 6-7, 3.95 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
