Edinson Volquez struck out a season-high 10 batters in seven innings of shutout baseball and the Pirate bats awakened for a 10-1 blowout of the Braves on Thursday night.
Volquez — who lowered his season ERA to 3.04 — extended his scoreless innings streak to 18 with seven stress-free innings allowing four hits and one walk while striking out ten.
The start did all but solidify Volquez’s spot in the postseason rotation and could put him in line to start the Wild Card game if the Pirates need Liriano and Cole to pitch in Cincinnati.
The team’s magic number to clinch home field for the Wild Card game is now at two and they could clinch that as early as Friday night. However, the team is still in division contention as they now trail St. Louis by one game and would need to use their big arms if they want to catch the Cardinals. That leaves Volquez and Worley as the candidates for the Wild Card game with Volquez holding the edge with his 1.08 September ERA in five starts.
The Pirates (87-72) gave Volquez plenty of cushion scoring six times while he was in the game. Travis Snider started things off in the first with a solo home run to right. Josh Harrison — who regained the N.L. batting lead — scored in the second on a gutsy play when Andrew McCutchen poped out in foul territory in short right field.
Gaby Sanchez extended the lead to 3-0 in the fifth scoring Starling Marte on an RBI single and Marte completed a three-run sixth with a 2 RBI double.
Andrew McCutchen provided a RBI single in the eighth and Neil Walker followed with his 22nd home run of the season to finish out the scoring.
The Braves (77-82) scored their only run in the ninth off of Casey Sadler, a Ramiro Pena sacrifice fly.
Final Score: Pirates 10, Braves 1.
N.L. Central standings with three games ramaining:
Cardinals 88-71 —
Pirates 87-72 1
Starters Lines
Volquez (W, 13-7): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 10 K’s. 95 Pitches (66 Strikes).
Hale (L, 4-5): 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 IBB, 4 K’s, 1 HR. 92 Pitches (54 Strikes).
The Pirates now head to Cincinnati for the final series of the regular season starting tomorrow night.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(RHP) Vance Worley (PIT): 8-4, 2.93 ERA
(RHP) Mike Leake (CIN): 11-13, 3.78 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:10.
(Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
