Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle called “uncle” to reporters pregame when describing his admiration for what the San Francisco Giants have done in recent seasons.
In Monday night’s game however, the Pirates did anything but, winning a 4-3 contest at AT&T Park.
The Pirates could have panicked when Andrew McCutchen’s two sacrifice flies were caught by Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence in above average defensive plays, however instead viewed both as two runs which undid a two-run first inning for the Giants.
Nori Aoki singled to open the first inning and stole second base. The third hitter Hunter Pence reached base on a fielding error by Jung Ho Kang. Both runners would be in scoring position after a wild pitch from starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. Buster Posey recorded the second out of the inning with a strikeout however Brandon Belt doubled to score both runs. Neither run was earned.
McCutchen’s sacrifice fly in the third inning scored Cole who reached base on a Matt Duffy throwing error. Pagan made a diving grab a couple of flips after the catch. Had Pagan not made the catch three runners would have scored.
Chris Stewart opened the fifth inning with a double although Cole’s sacrifice bunt attempt results in the Pirates catcher being thrown out at third base. Josh Harrison being hit by a pitch and Gregory Polanco walking loaded the bases once again. McCutchen’s sacrifice fly was caught by a diving Pence and Cole scored. Neil Walker then came to the plate and his double scored both runs to give the Pirates the lead for the first time.
Cole got in trouble in the sixth inning allowing two singles and a walk to open the bases. He would get out of the jam without allowing a run with a strikeout of Belt and getting Crawford to ground into a double play. Cole showed emotion screaming as he left the mound.
“There are certain guys who, when they get into jams, you don’t really sweat,” Walker said to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “To see him get out of it really shows how gritty he is, how confident he is and how much he sticks to his game plan.”
In seven innings Cole [8-2] allowed no earned runs on five hits while striking out nine batters. He threw 100 pitches, 67 of which were strikes.
Tony Watson’s 19-inning scoreless streak ended in the eighth inning when Pence hit an RBI ground out to scored Aoki.
The final out of the eighth inning came on a foul ball play challenged by the Pirates. The Pirates argued that there was fan interference on a foul ball that cost Polanco from making an inning ending catch. After review, the umpires agreed and Posey was ruled out.
Mark Melancon closed the game retiring the side in order to earn his 14th save of the season. Former Pirate Ryan Vogelsong took the loss and is now 4-3 on the year. Cole has now earned a win in each of his last three starts.
These two teams will meet again Tuesday when A.J. Burnett [5-1 1.81 ERA] faces Chris Heston [5-3 3.82 ERA]. Burnett is 6-3 with a 2.04 ERA in 10 career starts against the Giants.
Photo courtesy: Eric Risberg/AP
