I’m not sure where to start. How does one capture the emotion of sweeping a doubleheader against her team’s division rival, catapulting them into first place? Yesterday I focused on Clint Barmes in my recap, and the recap before that was focused on Michael McKenry. Today’s games involved everyone, from veteran competitor AJ Burnett to rookie pitcher Brandon Cumpton. And those were just the starting pitchers. Tony Sanchez made his catching debut, also his PNC Park
Garrett Jones and Neil Walker tackle Alex Presley after his walkoff single
debut, and contributed a sacrifice fly. Team leader Andrew McCutchen added a two-run homerun. Alex Presley was responsible for the first game’s walkoff win. Pedro Alvarez, Jordy Mercer, and Gaby Sanchez all had RBIs as well. Five members of the seven-man Shark Tank were used today. They combined to give up zero runs.
In game one, Pedro Alvarez drove in the first run of the game. He followed Cutch’s two-out double with a double of his own. Once again, the Bucs struggled to give AJ enough run support. He pitched out of a few jams but still gave up just one run in his seven innings of work. He allowed just three hits and three walks and struck out nine Cardinals batters.
Justin Wilson pitched a scoreless inning. Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless inning. Bryan Morris pitched a scoreless inning. Vin Mazzaro pitched a scoreless hitless inning, just walking one.
And so the Pirates went into the eleventh inning, tied at one. With one out, Russell Martin walked. Gaby Sanchez came in to pinch hit for Garrett Jones. He also walked, something he’s done so well this season. Alex Presley came to bat. Alex was just called up from AAA Indianapolis yesterday, and he already had one hit in the game.
Presley came through with a single that deflected off the pitcher and into right field. Martin scored, and the Pirates had a walkoff 2-1 win over the Cardinals. Vin Mazzaro received the win, improving to 6 and 2. Eleven innings for the first game of a doubleheader wasn’t ideal (the game took three hours and fifty minutes), so would the Pirates be too tired for the second game?
The answer was no. Brandon Cumpton got right down to business, working with Tony Sanchez, the catcher he’s thrown to
Brandon Cumpton
all year in AAA. Sanchez called a good game, but who was depending on who?
“In the first inning, there was so much anxiety, so much nerves,” Sanchez said. “I had to lean on Brandon a little bit, but once we got through the first one it was smooth sailing.”
“I was on the same page as Tony tonight, and luckily we got through it,” Cumpton said. He said there was “definitely a little bit of connection” with Sanchez.
He did more than just get through it. It took Cumpton just 87 pitches to get through seven shutout innings. The highest number of pitches he threw in any inning was 18. He gave up just three hits and one walk while striking out five. He earned his first Major League win. “It’s indescribable,” Cumpton said. “A lot of credit to my defense tonight. You get the call and and you wanna come up here and do anything you can to help out.”
“His overall command was the best we’ve seen since he came up,” Clint Hurdle said.
“We know Cumpton’s strength is pitching in,” Sanchez said. “For the most part, it was fastballs to both sides of the plate, and the sinker was working to our advantage.”
Jeanmar Gomez finished off the win with two scoreless innings.
But the final score was 6-0, so obviously the pitching wasn’t the whole story. The first run scored in the second as Jose Tabata raced home on a rare passed ball by Yadier Molina (who ended up leaving the game shortly after with a sprained knee). It looked like it might be another quiet game, but that started to change in the fifth inning.
Andrew McCutchen and Jordy Mercer celebrate Cutch’s two-run homerun.
Starling Marte led off with a beautiful triple, and Jordy Mercer immediately singled him in. Andrew McCutchen’s two-run homerun came next, and Gaby’s single went for naught as Tyler Lyons pitched out of the jam and got the next three batters out. Gaby even turned on the speed and advanced to second on Pedro’s flyout to center, sliding into second base just in time.
Gaby got another chance for a hit to matter in the seventh inning. Cutch singled to lead off, and Gaby came to bat against Cards reliever Keith Butler. His thirteenth double of the year scored Cutch, and Pedro came to bat, grounding out but advancing Gaby to third. Tony Sanchez came to bat with one out and Gaby on third. He must have missed the memo that the Pirates don’t hit sacrifice flies. Unless there’s an exception for Sanchezes. He flied out to left field, and Gaby raced home to give the younger Sanchez his first Major League RBI and the Pirates their sixth run of the evening.
The Pirates played 20 innings of baseball today and hardly looked winded at the end of it. They scored a total of 8 runs while the Cardinals scored one. The Pirates now have a 1.5 game lead over the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central and boast a record of 64 and 42, 22 games over .500.
They’ve won the first three games of the series now and have two to go. Although everyone in the Pirates’ clubhouse was excited following the game, they know there’s more work to be done.
“We’ll show up tomorrow and just try to take care of business,” Cutch said.
“We’re pleased, but we’re not satisfied,” Hurdle said. “There’s a very good ball club over there. They’ll show up tomorrow and be ready to play, and so will we.”
So who will the Pirates send to the mound tomorrow night at 7:05 to continue this win streak? Why, none other than Jeff Locke, of course. I’m not sure there’s anyone I’d rather have out there. Locke is 9 and 3 with a 2.15 ERA. His last start wasn’t his best, but he’ll be ready to get back out there. He’ll face Adam Wainwright (13-6, 2.51 ERA) of the Cardinals. Once again, PNC Park will be electric.
The Nice Guys 