Over the last two games, the Pirates starters have not been able to pitch into the 4th inning. And on Sunday, the pitching staff struggled for the third straight game. Right-hander Brad Lincoln lasted just 1.2 innings in the Pirates 15-1 loss to Los Angeles on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. The 23 hits given up to the Dodgers was a season-high.
From the get go, things weren’t good for Lincoln. Rookie Dee Gordon led off the game with a triple to center field and Jamey Carroll hit a groundout to short, allowing Gordon to score. MVP candidate Matt Kemp crushed the first pitch for a solo-shot to center field to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
With two outs, the Dodgers collected three straight singles off Lincoln. The third knock resulting in a third run to score in the frame. A.J. Ellis, the eighth batter to come to the plate struck out to end the frame, but Lincoln needed 33 pitches to end the inning.
The bottom of the 2nd inning was worse for Lincoln and the bullpen. Pitcher Chad Billingsley leadoff the inning with a single. With two outs, Kemp drove in his League-leading 113th RBI with a single into center field. After allowing a single to Juan Rivera to center, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle pulled Lincoln from the game, giving Lincoln a few words of encouragement before leaving the mound.
Lefty Aaron Thompson came in from the ‘pen, but the Dodgers didn’t stop there. James Loney hit a two-run double to left field. That marked Loney’s eighth RBI in three-games against the Pirates this series. Aaron Miles drew a four-pitch walk before Jerry Sands hit a three-run shot to left field. Six runs scored in the inning off Lincoln and Thompson, giving the Dodgers a 9-0 lead through two innings.
Lincoln was charged with six runs on eight hits over 1.2 innings with two walks and a homer.
It marked the third straight game the Pirates starters has not made it to the fourth inning. Lefty Jeff Locke and right-handers James McDonald and Lincoln have a combined era of 16.43 in the past three games (7.2 IP, 20H, 14 ER).
With Chris Leroux in relief in the 3rd and Gordon on first with one out, Kemp hit a fly ball to right field, but Xavier Paul lost the ball in the sun, allowing Kemp to reach first and advancing Gordon to third. With the single, Kemp was just a triple away from the cycle in the 3rd inning. Juan Rivera followed by hitting a two-run single up the middle to give the Dodgers an 11-0 lead.
With two outs in the 5th, former Dodger Xavier Paul broke up the shutout with a RBI double to left center field to score Chase d’Arnaud. But the Pirates were unable to plate another run in the game, combining for just seven hits.
The Dodgers tacked on three more runs off reliever Daniel McCutchen in the sixth inning. Rivera hit a two-run double and Loney hit a RBI single to right field.
Jason Grilli pitched the 8th inning, the eighth pitcher used in the game, which tied the franchise record for most pitchers used in a nine-inning game. The Bucs combined to throw 219 pitches in the loss.
With the 15-1 loss, the Pirates drop to 68-85 on the season . They have now lost five of their last six games and have gone 4-10 over their past 14.
The Pirates will open up a three-game series against the National League West leading Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. Right-hander Jeff Karstens (9-8, 3.45 ERA) will face righty Ian Kennedy (19-4, 2.99 ERA) at 9:40 PM ET.
Photo credit: Yahoo! Sports
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