Final: Pirates 9, Orioles 3
WP: Chris Resop (3-2)
LP: Jeremy Guthrie (2-9)
After seeing multiple games in a row where the Pirates’ offense looked totally inept, this game was nice to see.
The Bucs jumped ahead with a 3-run 1st inning that was highlighted with a 2-run double by birthday boy Garrett Jones. Neil Walker would score Jones with a sac fly.
The Bucs would then add on with an RBI double by Jose Tabata in the 2nd inning and a sac fly by Xavier Paul in the 3rd to plate Andrew McCutchen. 5-0 Pirates.
Then things began to get dicey. James McDonald somehow worked through 4 scoreless innings before giving up 2 home runs in the 5th inning. A solo homer and a 2-run shot. He would then allow two more runners to get on base before handing the ball over to Chris Resop who left the runners stranded.
The Pirates bullpen was spectacular tonight as they recorded 4 1/3 scoreless innings to bail McDonald out of another sub-par start.
The Bucs continued to add on to their lead throughout the night and the game was sealed in the 8th inning when Neil Walker hit a bases loaded, 2-run double in the 8th inning to give the Bucs a 6-run lead.
Jose Tabata, Josh Harrison, Neil Walker, Mike McKenry, and Ronny Cedeno all had 2 hits a piece. Andrew McCutchen went 1 for 1 with 3 walks and a sac fly. Even Matt Diaz and Brandon Wood got hits in this one. One of McKenry’s 2 hits was a double, which marked the 1st extra base hit by a Pirates’ catcher this month.
Win tomorrow and the Bucs are back to .500 and will win their 2nd interleague series of the season. Kevin Correia looks to get back on track as he faces 23-year old Zach Britton, who entered this season as the #23 prospect in all of baseball.
