The Pittsburgh Pirates kept up their trend of losing the first game of the series Monday night as they fell to the Atlanta Braves, 7-2.
The Pirates started out on top, scoring off of a Gaby Sanchez ground rule double in the 3rd inning, but everything went downhill in the 4th. First, starting pitcher AJ Burnett gave up a two-run shot to Brian McCann, driving in Freddie Freeman, who walked to start off the inning. Then, after some arguable calls, manager Clint Hurdle and catcher Russell Martin were both ejected during the bottom half of the 4th inning. Burnett managed to get through the inning, but he didn’t get much farther.
Burnett looked completely out of sync on the mound, only lasting 5.0 innings and giving up six runs on eight hits, including three big home runs. Two of those long balls came in the 5th inning and eventually led to Burnett’s exit. Other than that, and Mike Zagurski’s three walks in the 7th inning, Jared Hughes and Ryan Reid were able to slow down the Braves’ attack and keep the score where it was.
The Buccs managed to string together nine hits, just one shy of the Braves total of 10, but couldn’t get the runners across the plate. Five of those hits, however, came before the crucial 4th inning.
The Braves capitalized at crucial times, sending the ball over the fence with ducks on the pond. All three of their home runs were two-run blasts. But, of course, that’s always the Braves game plan. Tonight, the Pirates just didn’t have an answer.
Sanchez finished 2-4 with an RBI double. Starling Marte and Clint Barmes each added two hits on the night. Barmes added an RBI late in the bottom of the 9th. Travis Snider went 0-4 with three strikeouts on the night. For the Braves, all three players who hit home runs had multiple hits. Freeman, McCann and Jason Heywerd each posted two hits and two RBI’s. Chris Johnson also added an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the 7th inning.
The Pirates are now 7-13 in first games of the series but they’re 28-10 in games after that. They’ll look to bounce back tomorrow night in Atlanta when Jeff Locke takes on Mike Minor. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm ET.
Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sport
