Jared Hughes got three ground balls, but all three were singles. With Matt Carpenter at the plate, Hughes was unable to get a fourth grounder, instead an opposite field sacrifice fly ended the game.
This came in the second consecutive extra-inning 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The loss came in 11 innings.
In Friday night’s game, the Pirates were unable to provide A.J. Burnett with run support with a Burnett single bringing home one. Liriano pitched eight innings, allowing three hits, a run, three walks and four strikeouts. Liriano threw 98 pitches, 61 for strikes. He lowered his ERA from 2.22 to 1.95.
A single run in the third inning with a Josh Harrison RBI single allowed the Pirates to strike first. Gregory Polanco hit a one-out single. He stole second base, his eighth of the season and advanced to third on a throwing error by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. With the infield in, Harrison hit his single.
The Cardinals countered with a run in the sixth inning. Peter Bourjos hit a leadoff single which brought pinch-hitter Jason Heyward to the plate. With the Pirates in a shift, Heyward hit a single just over the outstretched glove of Harrison putting runners on first and third base with no outs. The next batter Jon Jay had an RBI ground out.
The Pirates left 18 runners on base in this game and this started with a 27-pitch first inning from John Lackey, which resulted in no runs and two stranded.
A seventh inning in which two batters were in scoring position was the team’s best chance to take the lead before extra innings. With two outs, Starling Marte singled and Pedro Alvarez hit a ground rule double putting both runners in scoring position. Cervelli grounded out to end the threat.
Jordy Mercer gave the Pirates a double to start the 10th inning however he was stranded at second base. Pinch-hitter Jung-ho Kang struck out, Sean Rodriguez popped out and Josh Harrison lined out to right field which ended the top half of the inning.
Hughes [0-1] worked a quick 10th inning and came back to pitch the 11th inning. Bourjos doubled but was picked off. Pete Kozma who came in as a defensive replacement singled and advanced to third on a Jay single. Pitching coach Ray Searage met with Hughes and they decided to pitch to Carpenter with Matt Holliday in the on-deck circle. The move backfired as Carpenter hit a 93-mile-per-hour sinker into left field. Marte caught the ball just short of the warning track which was enough to win the game.
Carlos Villanueva [3-1] earned the victory after pitching the top half of the 11th inning.
Sunday marks the series finale for the Pirates and Vance Worley [2-2 4.50] will face Michael Wacha [4-0 2.42 ERA]. Worley is 0-0 with a 4.96 ERA in three career starts against the Cardinals. His last start against them was July 8 when he allowed four runs in five innings and received a no-decision. In his last start Worley took a 4-0 loss against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched six innings and allowed all four runs on nine hits. Wacha is 1-0 against the Pirates winning September 8, 2013. Wacha is 9-1 with a 2.45 ERA at Busch Stadium in his career.
