Good afternoon from PNC Park and the 2014 National League Wild Card game where the Pirates (88-74) look to advance to the NLDS as they host the Giants (88-74).
Season Series
The Pirates took the season series (4-2) to lock up home field for tonight’s Wild Card game. Realistically, the six games could have gone either way as five of the six meetings were decided by two runs or less while two were decided in the final inning — a Giants 11-10 win in 10 innings and Starling Marte’s walk-off review. The only game that wasn’t close was a Pirates 5-0 win over Bumgarner in San Francisco where Vance Worley threw a 100-pitch shutout.
Tonight’s Starters
Madison Bumgarner (SF): 18-10, 2.98 ERA in 33 starts with 219 strikeouts in 217 1/3 innings and a 1.090 WHIP.
Career vs. Pittsburgh: 1-3, 3.24 ERA in four starts with 24 strikeouts in 25 innings and a 1.200 WHIP.
This season vs. Pittsburgh (L, 5-0 on July 28 in SF): The Pirates started the game with a hit and two walks and ended the inning with a 4-0 lead thanks to two sacrifice flies and two RBI singles. Josh Harrison added on in the second with a solo home run to left to make it 5-0.
Bumgarner only lasted four innings throwing 90 pitches (47 in the first) allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while the Giants offense was dominated by a Vance Worley 100-pitch complete game shutout.
“This is the most exciting game,” Bumgarner said. “The whole year comes down to one game. If you don’t want to pitch in a game like that, something’s wrong with you, or you’re in the wrong business.”
“This is what you work for. I’m sure there’s plenty of other guys who would love to be out there and have the chance to do that.”
Edinson Volquez (PIT): 13-7, 3.04 ERA in 31 starts with 140 strikeouts in 192 2/3 innings and a 1.230 WHIP.
Career vs. San Francisco: 2-2, 5.72 ERA in 11 starts with 60 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings and a 1.588 WHIP.
This season vs. San Francisco: Did not face them.
Last start vs. San Francisco (ND in a 3-2 L on September 26, 2013 as a Dodger): Volquez held the Giants scoreless over four innings before allowing two in the fifth. He was done after the fifth allowing only the two runs on four hits with three walks.
“We play one game at a time,” said Volquez. We’re going to do our best. We don’t know what is going to happen. I’m going to pitch my best and we’ll see what happens. You can’t predict the future.”
Tonight’s Lineups
Pirates vs. Bumgarner
Harrison – 3B (4-for-5, HR, RBI, BB)
Mercer – SS (3-for-7, K)
McCutchen – CF (2-for-10. 2 BB, 2 K’s)
Martin – C (3-for-7, RBI, BB, K)
Marte – LF (First appearance)
Walker – 2B (3-for-9, RBI, K)
G. Sanchez – 1B (3-for-9, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K’s)
Snider – RF (First appearance)
Volquez – P (1-for-5, RBI, 4 K’s)
Giants vs. Volquez
Blanco – CF (5-for-19, RBI, 3 BB, 9 K’s)
Panik – 2B (First appearance)
Posey – C (5-for-9, 2 2B, RBI, 2 BB, K)
Sandoval – 3B (6-for-13, 3 2B, 3 RBI, K)
Pence – RF (7-for-36, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 5 BB, 16 K’s)
Belt – 1B (8-for-18, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 4 K’s)
Crawford – SS (3-for-20, 7 K’s)
Ishikawa – LF (1-for-4, RBI, 2 BB)
Bumgarner – P (1-for-4, 1 K)
Manager Clint Hurdle has preached a one game at a time philosophy all season and tonight is not different.
“I do think you’ve got to just try and let situations present themselves,” said Hurdle. “I don’t think situations need to be forced. I think you’ve got to use your eyes, use your heart. There’s a rhythm to the game that’s always evident and you can pay attention to.”
First pitch is set for 8:07.
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(Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar)
