Thursday, August 8, 2013

Pirates Sweep Marlins

    Miami Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich hit his first major league home run, but that was not enough as they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 in ten innings at PNC Park on Thursday. The Bucs, who swept the three-game series against the Fish, won for the second time in three games on a walk-off hit.
    It was a pitching rematch from two weeks ago between two rookies. Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez pitched five innings and gave up two runs on five hits and struck out five. Pirates hurler Gerrit Cole allowed four runs on six hits during the five innings he pitched.
    In the first inning, Miami(43-70) jumped out to a two-run lead against Cole. Two batters after Yelich walked, Giancarlo Stanton knocked him in on a double to deep right field. After Logan Morrison lined out, Stanton scored on an RBI-single by Placido Polanco into center field.
    Jeff Mathis got an infield hit and Fernandez sacrificed him to second to begin the top of the fifth inning. Yelich smacked a two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch to left field and the Marlins 4-0 lead.
    The Pirates began to chip at the four-run lead in the bottom of the frame with a one-out rally. Starling Marte walked then Alex Presley singled into center field. Neil Walker drove in Marte with a base hit into left and advanced to second on the relay throw. Pedro Alvarez came to the plate and ripped a single into right field as Presley scored.
    Pittsburgh(70-44) put up two runs in the seventh inning to tie the contest. Chad Qualls gave up a walk to Gabe Tabata, a base hit to center by Marte and a single to left by Andrew McCutchen to load the bases with none out. Mike Dunn was called in to relieve for Qualls and Tabata scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Walker. The Bucs had the bases loaded again as Alvarez walked and then Marlins brought in Ryan Webb to pitch for Dunn. Former Marlin Gaby Sanchez welcomed him into the game with a sacrifice fly towards right field to score Marte and make it 4-4.
    The Bucs got the game-winning run in the tenth inning off Steven Ames. Josh Harrison singled to center field and was pushed over to second on a Clint Barmes sacrifice bunt. Tabata grounded out and Marte was then intentionally walked. Russell Martin was called upon to pinch-hit for pitcher Jared Hughes and he delivered with walk-off single into left field for Harrison to score.

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