(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
In a game that went back-and-forth, combined for 28 total hits,10 total pitchers and involved two players that went a combined 6-for-6 in 10 plate appearances, the Brewers were able to survive with a 7 – 6 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday night. Neil Walker was able to sum the whole thing up . “It was a strange game, it was. Back-and-forth, back-and-forth.”
The struggle began against Locke, who was good over the first four innings allowing a non-RBI GIDP by Ramirez in the first and a monster shot by him into the Pirate bullpen in the fourth. He wouldn’t keep it up, though, as he gave up three in the fifth before being removed for the pen. You could say that bad luck played into it as well as most of the Brewer hits against Locke were either infield hits or catchable balls that dropped in. “I think diving plays and barehanded grabs are things that happen when things are going real well. I think it evens out a little bit, you know there are a lot of things in the game that can change and a lot of things that can happen, fair balls, foul balls, our park, their park. A lot of different things you can talk about.”
The Pirates would continue their trend of not going down without a fight as they would score four times in the fifth to cut the lead to one which was headed by a Neil Walker 3-run homer that cleared the Clemente seats and rolled down to the lower river walk. They would tie things up an inning later when Felix Pie, who had a pinch-hit RBI double an inning before, singled under the diving glove of Brewers first basemen, Yuniesky Betancourt, and into right field to score Andrew Lambo. For Pie, it was a solid night off the bench as he went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. “You love to see guys come off the bench and provide a spark,” said manager, Clint Hurdle. “He’s been away from the major league game for a while. He’s always worked hard, he’s always been focused. This opportunity, He’s trying to do everything he can to move upon it and it was obviously needed and it was good to see. It probably feels like he’s got another lease on life. To be away for the time he was, to get back in the big leagues — every opportunity is special for him.”
The first two of five total shark tank occupants worked scoreless innings, but the same couldn’t be said for Justin Wilson and Bryan Morris (Loss) as they both gave up single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
The offence bailed Wilson out, though as Pedro Alvarez took a 3-0 mistake pitch off of the right field foul pole (one fan under the pole said he dented the metal) to tie the game up at six. The same couldn’t be said for Morris, though as the offense would go 1-2-3 in the eighth and would be unable to score Andrew McCutchen, who doubled with one out in the ninth.
Final Score: Brewers 7, Pirates 6
The Cardinals defeated the Reds 6 – 1 tonight to go 1 1/2 games up on the Pirates for the NL Central lead. They remain three games up on the Reds for the first NL Wild Card spot.
Starters Lines
Locke (ND): 4 2/3 IN, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K’s, 1 HR. 77 Pitches (51 Strikes)
Lohse (ND): 5 1/3, 13 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 K’s 1 HR, 100 Pitches (67 Strikes)
Game two of the series will be tomorrow night at 7:05. Marlin Byrd and John Buck are expected to be here.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(RHP) Charlie Morton (PIT): 5 – 3, 3.42 ERA
(LHP) Tom Gorzelanny (MIL): 3 – 5, 3.60 ERA
For Pirates news and in-game updates, Follow Travis on Twitter @TBerardi_OVA or @OVAthletics
