The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Houston Astros 5-4, Friday night, on one of the most bizarre and embarrassing ways to end a game.
Russell Martin reached on an error when Jimmy Paredes dropped a fly ball with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and two outs.
For the Astros, it was the third error of the game but it was also the 31st loss of the season, tied with the Marlins for the most in the Majors. Houston had a 4-1 lead, at one point, but squandered it when they allowed four runs over the last four innings.
“The intensity of the crowd picked up late in that game…if you can’t hear whose call [for the ball] you have to give credit where it’s due and hopefully we can keep making it tough for other teams coming here,” said Travis Snider.
Robbie Grossman, who was a major trade piece in the Pirates’ acquisition of Wandy Rodriguez, led off the game with a double in the left-centerfield gap. Grossman was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Jake Elmore before scoring on a sacrifice flyout to deep center by Jason Castro.
The lead would last for all of two outs before Andrew McCutchen drove an 0-1 pitch over the centerfield wall for his sixth home run of the season. Houston starter, Jordan Lyles, walked the next two batters before inducing a ground out from Russell Martin.
Both pitchers settled down, retiring a combined 19 straight batters before Russell Martin’s infield hit in the fourth.
The Astros retook the lead in the top of the fifth on Matt Dominguez’s one out solo home run to left field. Marwin Gonzalez followed with a single, Grossman drew a walk, and Elmore drove in Houston’s third run with a single to right field. Elmore was then hung up between first and second, but Martin’s throw escaped the glove of Barmes. Neil Walker, who was backing up on the play, threw the ball home in an attempt to nail Grossman at the plate, but the throw skipped off of Martin’s glove allowing the run to score and Elmore to advance to third.
Gomez was lifted for Vin Mazzaro after issuing a walk to Jason Castro. Mazzaro struck out Chris Carter to end the threat in the fifth.
In the bottom of the sixth, McCutchen reached third when Chris Carter dropped the ball in right field. Garrett Jones doubled down the right field line to cut the Houston lead in half. Lyles was then pulled for Travis Blackley. Neil Walker attempted to move Jones over to third but Blackley fielded the bunt and threw to third to get the lead runner. After a single by Russell Martin, Pedro Alvarez struck out. Blackley was then relieved by Paul Clemens who walked Barmes before inducing a bases loaded popout to end the threat.
In the bottom of the 8th the Pirates tied the score with two run homer by Pedro Alvarez. Walker led off with a single and was moved to second on a wild pitch from Hector Ambriz, who came in to face Russell Martin. After Martin flied out to centerfield, Pedro Alvarez crushed the first pitch he saw, driving it out of the ballpark. The ball bounced off the river walk and landed in the Allegheny River, an estimated 462 feet.
“I’m not going to take credit if it bounces in,” Alvarez said with a smile, “that’s cheating.”
The Pirates went on to win in the bottom of the ninth on the third error of the night for the Astros. Marte singled, then was called out on Snider’s fielder’s choice. McCutchen followed with a single, Inge reached on an error by pitcher Edgar Gonzalez, and Walker struck out. Russell Martin worked a full count before popping the ball up to shallow right. Right fielder Jimmy Paredes collided with Jake Elmore and the ball fell between the two as Snider crossed for the winning run.
“There’s going to be breaks that you’ll get in weird times, during the season. This is definitely a weird way to get a break where you’re winning the game on a mistake.” -Russell Martin
The Pirates will go for their fifth straight win tomorrow night when AJ Burnett faces former Pirate, Erik Bedard.
Photo courtesy of Newstimes.com
