The Pittsburgh Pirates fell six games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central following a 4-3 loss Tuesday night.
This loss pushed the Pirates to 6-17 on the road this season against NL Central opponents.
Jeff Locke [6-7] allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base four innings out of five however, it was the fifth inning that was his undoing.
Locke walked the first two batters he faced and then after a mound visit Jason Heyward hit a single to put the Cardinals within 3-2. Yadier Molina tied the game hitting an inside pitch to center field, good for a sacrifice fly. The go-ahead and ultimately game-winning run was scored on a Stephen Piscotty RBI single. Locke threw 25 pitches in the inning.
The Pirates struck first in the game. In the top of the first inning, Starling Marte hit a one-out double, his 21st of the season. Jung Ho Kang would bat him in with a double of his own, his 18th this season.
Locke allowed a leadoff single to Matt Carpenter, Kolten Wong then reached by a fielder’s choice and Johnny Peralta also reached base with one out placing the left-handed starter into an early test. Heyward grounded into what appeared to be a double play, however the Cardinals challenged and the play was overturned. Wong scored on the play.
In the third inning, Gregory Polanco just missed a home run, instead settling for his fourth triple of the season. It he has now reached base in 27 of his past 29 games. Marte and Andrew McCutchen both were unable to cash in on the triple, however Aramis Ramirez hit a first-pitch curveball for an RBI single placing the Pirates back in front by a 2-1 score.
The Cardinals appeared poised to tie the game. Carpenter drew a leadoff walk and Wong singled. Heyward then hit a soft ground ball and evaded a Pedro Alvarez tag to load the bases. Locke got out of the jam striking out Randal Grichuk and Molina grounded out.
Alvarez made up for his defensive miscue half an inning later with a fourth-inning home run off Carlos Martinez, his 16th of the season. The homer traveled 114 miles-per-hour off the bat into the center field seats. The 447-foot home run is the longest at Busch Stadium this season.
Locke departed the game following the fifth inning allowing four runs on seven hits. Locke has not pitched past the six inning in his last four starts.
Following the Alvarez home run, Martinez [12-4] settled in allowing four hits in his last four innings of work. His eight-inning start ties a season high set July 25 against the Atlanta Braves.
Trevor Rosenthal earned his 34th save of the season setting down the Pirates in order. Neil Walker struck out for the first out of the inning, however he disagreed with the final strike and expressed his displeasure with home plate umpire Adam Hamari.
This series continues Wednesday when Gerrit Cole [14-5 2.39 ERA] faces Michael Wacha [13-4 2.92 ERA]. Cole is 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA in five career regular season starts against the Cardinals.
Of note: The Pirates have homered in 12 of their past 13 games and 23 times in the last 16 games… Tyler Glasnow gave up a run on four hits in six innings with Triple-A Indianapolis. He owns a 1.69 ERA thus far with the Indians. Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer each began their rehab assignments with the Indians and went 1-for-4 and 0-for-3 respectively. Josh Bell doubled in the winning run… Rob Scahill made a rehab appearance with Double-A Altoona and allowed two hits in three scoreless innings of work….Following the game Jared Hughes said to reporters that in his eighth inning outing, he had the ball graze his cheek. Hughes was able to shake off the hit and strand the bases loaded. He later told reporters he would never watch the replay of that play.
Photo credit: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
