A total of 6 homers were hit out of PNC on Thursday night as the Braves defeated the Pirates 6 – 4.
Jeff Locke didn’t get off to the start he wanted as he left a fastball belt-high on an 0 – 2 pitch to B.J. Upton that he sent deep into the left field seats to make it 1 – 0 Braves after a batter. ”It was kind of deflating, you’re 0 – 2 to start out the game and you give up the homerun, that’s tough.” Said Locke. He would buckle down, though, and strike out Jason Heyward and Justin Upton before getting out of the inning two batters later.
Pirate Manager, Clint Hurdle stressed, before the game, that getting out of the first inning without a mark was key for the pitching staff as they have posted a 9+ ERA in the opening frame coming into the game.
The Pirates would get the run back in the bottom when Travis Snider walked with one out. He would advance to third on an Andrew McCutchen double and score on a Garrett Jones Sac fly to tie it at 1 after an inning. (Side note: with Cutch at second and 2-out, Pedro Alvarez was robbed of a hit when he sent a sharp grounder up the middle that was tracked down by Dan Uggla)
The Buccos would take the lead in the second on a solo shot by Russell Martin but it would be short-lived as Chris Johnson would follow a Justin Upton 2-out walk with a laser of his own to dead center to regain the lead for the Braves at 3 – 2.
The homers would continue in the fourth when Pedro Alvarez finally got on the board with a mammoth shot that hit halfway up the batters-eye in center. It was an estimated 448 feet (I think it was longer) and the game was again tied at 3 “It was a pitch that I was able to put a good swing on. I just happened to connect on the head at the right time.” Said Alvarez.
The tie would, again, be short-lived as. Justin Upton would hit bomb to left field in the fifth. (His 9th of the season in 15 games) to give the Braves the lead back, 4 – 3.
The Buccos would tie it again in the bottom thanks to Snider’s 5th double of the season (2nd of the night) and Jones would hit an RBI double to make it 4 – 4.
The game would then move to the bullpens and remain that way until the 8th when Jared Hughes would give up a 2-run pinch-hit homer to Evan Gattis to make it 6 – 4. “I was planning on getting ahead (in the count) but I didn’t and that was the major fault”. Said Hughes.
The Braves’ back-end of the bullpen would then shut down the Pirates over the last two innings as Eric O’Flaherty (1 IN, 0 baserunners) and Craig Kimbrel (1 IN, 3 K’s, 0 baserunners) would shut things down from there. Final score: Braves 6, Pirates 4.
The Pirates will look to even up the 4-game series tomorrow night at 7:05.
Starters Lines:
Locke (ND): 4 2/3 IN, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 K’s 4 BB, 3 HR. 95 Pitches (51 Strikes)
Teheran (ND): 5 IN, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 K’s, 3 BB (1 IBB), 2 HR, 2 HB, 1 WP. 87 Pitches (48 Strikes)
Tomorrow’s Starters:
(PIT) Wandy Rodriguez LHP (1 – 0, 1.00 ERA)
(ATL) Tim Hudson RHP (2 – 0, 2.50 ERA)
