Edinson Volquez threw eight innings of one-run ball as the Pirates got back to the .500 mark with a 8-1 win over the Rays on Monday night.
Volquez (5-6) experienced a little trouble in the first and second before settling down. Desmond Jennings led off the bottom of the first, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a James Loney RBI single. The Rays (31-47) threatened again in the second, but Volquez was able to get Ryan Hanigan to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Volquez didn’t allow another baserunner to reach second in any of his final six innings of work allowing only two hits.
The Pirates (38-38) led from the start and didn’t look back as they put two runs on the board in the first. Ike Davis grounded out to score Starling Marte. Russell Martin followed with a RBI single to make it 2-1.
The Pirates blew the game open in the third when Pedro Alvarez followed an Andrew McCutchen RBI single with a three-run homer to center field. Travis Snider and McCutchen added RBI singles in the later innings to finish out the scoring.
Jeanmar Gomez worked a scoreless ninth to close things out.
Final Score: Pirates 8, Rays 1.
Starters Lines
Volquez (W, 5-6): 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. 110 Pitches (78 Strikes).
Cobb (L, 2-6): 5 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K’s, 1 HBP, 1 HR. 91 Pitches (49 Strikes).
The Pirates will look to lock up the series tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(LHP) Jeff Locke (PIT): 0-1, 3.76 ERA
(RHP) Chris Archer (TB): 4-4, 3.14 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:10.
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(Photo Credit: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
