Coming into this game the Pittsburgh Pirates were 0-6 in extra innings and had yet to record a walkoff win. Both changed early Saturday morning after a Starling Marte single scored Chris Stewart in the 13th inning.
“I don’t know if I’ve been involved in a game of this magnitude to go 13 innings like that,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “It was a wonderful game to watch.”
Not many fans could have expected a pitcher’s duel between Jeff Locke and Kevin Correia but that was exactly what happened.
Locke pitched six innings allowing six hits, no runs, a walk and two strikeouts on 95 pitches, 62 of which were strikes. Correia, the former Pirate also received a no-decision throwing 5.2 innings allowing five hits, no runs, a walk and four strikeouts on 86 pitches, 56 in the strike zone.
The Phillies had their chances early against the Pirates stranding five runners while grabbing six hits in three innings. In the second inning the Phillies had three singles however one was cancelled out by a double play and Ben Revere flied out to center field.
In the eighth inning the Pirates had a two out threat after Josh Harrison reached base on a Ken Giles error. The throw went out of play allowing Harrison to take second base. Giles then intentionally walked Pedro Alvarez and then issued another free pass to Francisco Cervelli. With the crowd at its loudest level of the night to that point, Giles then pitched three consecutive balls to Jordy Mercer. Giles however would rally and strike out the Pirates shortstop.
Mark Melancon allowed three base runners however no runners to score after getting pinch-hitter Chase Utley to ground out.
In extra innings Jared Hughes came in to pitch and allowed a single to Revere. He advanced to second on a bunt and to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Jeff Francoeur hit a slow roller. Hughes went for it however after seeing how slow the ball was moving gave way to a charging Harrison who threw on to first. Sean Rodriguez, a defensive substitution stretched the necessary length, which was fairly close to a split to ensure Francoeur was out.
“As soon as it hit I saw Hughes break for it and I told him I had it,” said Harrison. “I had a good read on it and knew I’d bare hand it and that I had a shot.”
“You’re always ready to stretch on a play, but he made a heck of a play there so I just figured I had to do my part,” Rodriguez said. “It wasn’t much, he did all the work.”
The bottom of the tenth saw a one-out single from Harrison, off Jeanmar Gomez, his fourth hit of the game. Rodriguez then singled to put a runner in scoring position. Cervelli’s ground out placed both runners in scoring position. Pinch-hitter Corey Hart then stepped to the plate and struck out.
The Pirates earned the walkoff win in the bottom of the 13th inning. Stewart singled and advanced to second on a Gregory Polanco sacrifice. Marte then singled him home to end the nearly five hour game.
“I wasn’t feeling pressure at all, I was focused on hitting the ball to the middle,” said Marte.
Antonio Bastardo [1-1] earned his first victory as a Pirate and Dustin McGowan is now 1-2 on the season.
The game’s start was delayed by an 85-minute rain delay.
This victory was the 900th of Hurdle’s career.
“Pretty much a snap shot of my career and life,” Hurdle said. “Just keep grinding.”
This series will continue Saturday afternoon when Sean O’Sullivan [1-4 4.96 ERA] faces Gerrit Cole [9-2 1.73 ERA]. Cole with a win would become the first pitcher in the major leagues with 10 wins. Cole is 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts against the Phillies. O’Sullivan is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two games [one start] against the Pirates.
Photo courtesy: Jared Wickerham/Getty
