After the Pirates were two-hit in their season opening loss to Roy Halladay and the Phillies on Thursday, they knew they were in for another tough game with left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee going for their cross-state rivals. Lee came as advertised by not allowing the Pirates to get their second base hit until the sixth inning. With the bats once again coming up short, the Pirates had to count on their pitching staff again. With a solid start by Jeff Karstens, and the bullpen putting up a zero, the Pirates were able to be advantageous and take game two of the series 2-1 in 10 innings.
After back-to-back hits to start the first inning, Phillies right fielder Hunter Pence drove in Shane Victorino to give the Phillies an early 1-0 lead. After the rough first, Karstens came into his own allowing only two additional hits the rest of the way.
“I was able to keep the ball down and get in a good rhythm. I think that helped me out a lot today,” Karstens said.
Offensively for the Pirates, their first run came in the bottom of the sixth inning after pinch-hitter Yamaico Navarro scored on a wild pitch from Cliff Lee giving the Pirates their first run of the game and of the season. In the ninth, the Pirates failed to capitalize after an Andrew McCutchen single and stolen base as Casey McGehee and Neil Walker would leave him stranded on the base paths.
The crowd of 38,885, the first time in history the Pirates have sold out their first two home games to open a season, were treated to extra innings. After reliever Juan Cruz stranded two runners at the top of the 10th, the Pirates offense capitalized big time. First-year Pirates Rod Barajas hit a double to straight away centerfield, missing a home run by inches to lead off the frame. After Michael McKenry, who came on as a pinch-runner, was moved to third on the sacrifice bunt by Clint Barmes, Alex Presley came up to deliver the walk-off hit; an RBI infield single on a bang-bang play at first base after Jimmy Rollins was forced to backhand the slow grounder.
“Once I saw Rollins would have to go to his backhand, I thought we had a shot,” Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said.
While forcing Rollins to backhand the ball helped, the skipper acknowledged the effort on the part of Presley.
“If he doesn’t flat get it though, we don’t win. If he doesn’t flat get it, we don’t win. And that’s what he did,” Hurdle said emphatically.
Presley, who has tallied four of the Pirates eight hits this season, said he thought he had a good chance to make it.
“I knew I had a good chance, it’s a good thing I broke the bat to where it didn’t get out there. I knew it was in the hole and I run hard every time, but I had a shot on that one though and I happened to be safe,” Presley said. “I’ve had worse hits than that, but the timing of that couldn’t have been better.”
With the two Phillies’ aces out of the deck, the Pirates will now turn their attention to second-year pitcher Vance Worley as he will take the bump to close out the series. With the lack of offensive display so far, the Pirates know they may have to depend on pitching once again.
“We believe we can pitch. When we do well out there, we aren’t surprised,” Hurdle said. “Karstens went out and expected to pitch a good game and (James) McDonald is going to go out there and expect to pitch a good game tomorrow. We are going to rely on our starting pitching like every other club in starting baseball.”
Karstens, who received a no-decision, went six innings allowing five hits, one run, one walk and two strikeouts. Cruz earned the victory, his first of the season. Lee pitched six innings for the Phillies allowing two hits, one run, two walks and four strikeouts. Joe Blanton took the loss, his first of the season.
Tomorrow’s game is schedule for a 1:35 first pitch and will be the final game of the three game set. The probable pitcher are Worley (0-0) for the Phillies and McDonald (0-0) for the Pirates.
Pirates:
Tabata – 1-5
Presley – 2-5
McCutchen – 1-4
McGehee – 0-4
Hague – 0-3
McLouth (PH) – 0-0 (BB)
Walker – 0-3
Barajas – 1-4
Barmes – 0-3
Harrison – 1-1
Phillies:
Victorino – 2-5
Polanco – 2-5
Rollins – 1-4
Pence – 1-4
Nix – 0-3
Mayberry – 0-3
Thome (PH) – 0-1
Ruiz – 1-3
Galvis – 0-4
Pierre – 0-1
Wiggington – 0-1
Photo credits: Getty Images
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