For the vast majority of his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, fans complained that A.J. Burnett did not receive run support. That was not the case against the San Diego Padres as the Pirates gave their starting pitcher the most runs in a game he pitched since July 8, 2012 in an 11-5 victory over the San Diego Padres.
The 11 runs were a season-best and the most the team has scored since August 11 against the Detroit Tigers.
The Pirates scored in each of the first four innings with home runs coming in the first three.
Jung Ho Kang got the offense started with a three-run home run into the upper deck of Petco Park’s left field. Neil Walker who singled and Starling Marte who was hit by a pitch both scored on the play. The homer is Kang’s third of the season and came with two outs. Kang was greeted with an “atta boy” from manager Clint Hurdle and saw his hitting streak extend to 10 games.
The game was broadcast by MBC Sports in Korea meaning Kang’s home country got to see the homer.
Gregory Polanco made his third start batting in the seventh spot in the Pirates lineup. He led off the second inning depositing a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for his second home run of the season.
Starling Marte continued the streak of home runs hitting his 10th of the season, his third consecutive year with double digit homers. The homer also scored Andrew McCutchen who singled.
McCutchen’s ground rule double in the fourth tacked on an extra run as Francisco Cervelli scored. McCutchen was frustrated by the play however as Josh Harrison would have scored had the ball not bounced over the center field wall. This hit chased Ian Kennedy [2-5] from the game after allowing seven runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings.
The Padres scored four unanswered runs, two each in the fourth and fifth innings. Cory Spangenberg had an RBI ground out and Will Middlebrooks an RBI single in the fourth while Yangervis Solarte reached base on a Walker error and Justin Upton added an RBI single in the fifth.
With two runners on in the fifth Burnett [5-1] struck out Matt Kemp and despite a wild pitch struck out Derek Norris. Spangenberg then lined out to end the threat.
The Pirates got all of those runs back in the sixth inning. Cory Mazzoni, the third Padres reliever allowed all of the runs, two of which were earned. A Cervelli single was followed by an RBI double from Harrison, his 13th of the season. McCutchen then registered his second RBI double of the game, his 11th on the season scoring another run. Marte followed with a line out to short however Alexi Amarista’s throwing error when attempting to double Walker off third base went into the stands scoring two runs.
Burnett allowed more than two runs for the first time all season and after allowing a run on an RBI double was removed from the game after 5.2 innings pitched. Jared Hughes got the last out with a three-pitch strikeout. Burnett allowed five runs, four earned on eight hits while throwing 94 pitches, 61 of which were strikes. He is now 5-0 in May.
Vance Worley saw his first action since May 19 throwing two scoreless innings while Antonio Bastardo retired the side in order in the ninth to end the game.
The Pirates had 15 hits led by Cervelli, McCutchen and Walker who each had three. Cervelli now has reached base in eight consecutive games.
This pushes the Pirates winning streak to seven games with a starting pitcher earning a victory in each. It is the longest team winning streak since June 20-30 2013, when the Pirates won nine consecutive games.
“We’re just getting the job done playing small ball and getting the big hits when we need them,” Andrew McCutchen said on Root Sports following the game.
This four-game series will continue Friday night when Francisco Liriano [2-4 3.86 ERA] faces James Shields [6-0 3.75 ERA]. Liriano is 1-2 with a 2.42 ERA in four career starts against the Padres.
Photo credit: @Pirates on Twitter
