A Colby Rasmus second inning grand slam and a Melky Cabrera fifth inning two-run shot were more than enough offense for the Blue Jays as they defeated the Pirates 7-2 on Sunday afternoon to avoid a three-game sweep.
Edinson Volquez started the game off going 1-2-3 in the first and got run support via a Josh Harrison lead-off triple and Neil Walker RBI groundout, but lost his control and was unable to hold the lead.
Volquez walked two to start the second, then Brett Lawrie beat out a chopper that Jordy Mercer was unable to handle cleanly to load the bases. Colby Rasmus followed with the big blow, a homer into the Clemente seats for a Blue Jays 4-1 lead.
The Jays would strike big again in the fifth when Jose Reyes led the inning off with a double and Melky Cabrera followed with a two-run homer to make it 6-1.
Volquez went only five innings allowing six runs for the second straight time.
“I was all over the place today, a little off my rhythm, too and around the zone,” said Volquez. “I have to keep working on that and next time do better.”
Jared Hughes allowed a run in two innings of work while Casey Sadler worked another scoreless inning while recording a strikeout. Harrison provided the only productive offense of the game going 2-for-4 with two triples and two runs scored.
“Anytime you win a series it’s a good thing,” said Harrison. “It’s good to come from behind those two wins and I can speak for any of us. We don’t want to do that too much, but we’ll take a win anyway we can.”
Final Score: Blue Jays 7, Pirates 2.
Hurdle Ejected
Clint Hurdle and first base coach Rick Sofield were both ejected in the fourth inning after Jordy Mercer was called out on strikes on a borderline pitch at the knees.
“It got to a point where I felt a pitch that hadn’t been called a strike all day got called a strike and for me, at a very pivotal at bat for us,” said manager Clint Hurdle.
The strikeout came with two men on and two out with the Pirates trailing 4-1.
Starters Lines
Volquez: 5 IN, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K’s, 2 HR. 83 Pitches (46 Strikes).
McGowan: 7 IN, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K’s. 101 Pitches (62 Strikes).
The Pirates are back at it tomorrow night opening up a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(LHP) Jeff Locke (PIT): First start of 2014
(RHP) Matt Cain (SF): 0-3, 3.45 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
