(Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PNC Park — Jeff Locke couldn’t find his location as he allowed eight runs on ten hits in his 2 2/3 innings of work in a Pirates 15 – 5 loss on Saturday evening.
It was a case of just not having your stuff as Locke implied. “I think it’s just the game speed speeding up on you really fast. It happened a couple times last year and the year before when you almost expected the struggles because at one point, it became every outing you pitched and it was tough. That’s what happened today, the game sped up a little bit and I was all over the zone and then you throw the pitch over the plate and it’s a hit, then it’s another hit. Like they all say, Hitting is contagious.”
The Diamondbacks struck early as Locke would load the bases after allowing a single and two walks with one out in the first. He would then get Matt Davidson to strike out before allowing a dink single to short right field by Wil Nieves to make it 2 – 0.
They would break the game open in the third when they collected seven hits with two out, capped off by a Martin Prado three run homer to make the score 8 – 0. Cahill helped himself out in the inning by collecting a 2 RBI single to keep the rally going.
The Pirates would answer in the bottom of the inning with some two out lightning for themselves. Starling Marte started it with a solo homer to left field. Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen would then single setting up a first-pitch homer by Pedro Alvarez to the last row of the Clemente seats to make it 8 – 4. Cahill would be done after five innings
It would be 8 – 5 in the sixth when Russell Martin led the inning off with a book-rule double into the north side notch. He would score two batters later on a Jose Tabata single. They would then load the bases thanks to two hit batsmen, but Walker would strike out on a pitch at his feet to end the threat. Clint Hurdle continues to throw Walker out as a right-handed hitter. He hopes it will work itself out in these situations. “We’ve picked different spots and he’s worked hard. I thought the right-handed stroke has shown some momentum, but everyday we evaluate what the best lineup is to throw out so we’ll see as we move forward, but he’s working really, really hard on this because he believes he’s got more to give from that side.”
The D-Backs would put the game away for good in the eighth inning when they scored four times off of Jeanmar Gomez and Bryan Morris. Six Diamondbacks would single resulting in the four runs. Jason Kubel would present the big blow when he sent a one out, 2 RBI single into center to blow it open once again. Paul Goldschmidt would then end the scoring in the ninth by tying Pedro back up in the home run race with a three run shot onto the left field rotunda.
The Diamondbacks bullpen of Thatcher, Putz, Bell and De La Rosa allowed a combined two hits of shutout ball the rest of the way to keep the Pirates from mounting any type of comeback.
Final Score: Diamondbacks 15, Pirates 5
Starters Lines:
Locke (L, 9 – 4): 2 2/3 IN, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 2 K’s, 1 HR. 85 Pitches (52 Strikes)
Cahill (W, 4 – 10): 5 IN, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K’s, 2 HR. 94 Pitches (50 Strikes)
These two will be back at it for the rubber match of the three game series tomorrow at 1:35.
Tomorrow’s Starters:
(RHP) Charlie Morton (PIT): 4 – 3, 3.79 ERA
(LHP) Wade Miley (ARI): 9 – 8, 3.63 ERA
Follow Travis for Pirates news and in-game updates on Twitter @TBerardi_OVA or @OVAthletics
