Alex Presley walked-off for the Pirates with a single in the eleventh inning to give Bucs a 2 – 1 victory over the Cardinals and first place by a ½ game in the NL Central.
The Pirates started today’s game like the previous one as they got a run across in the first. Andrew McCutchen knocked a double off of the left field wall and scored one batter later when Pedro Alvarez knocked an RBI double down the right field line. It would be the only real offense against Cardinals starter, Lance Lynn, as he only allowed one hit over the next five innings of work.
The Cardinals had the same lack of offense as they scratched the tying run across in the third. They loaded the bases against A.J. Burnett with no out. Burnett would fight back getting Jon Jay to strike out. Matt Holliday would then hit a slow grounder to Alvarez, who could only throw to first for the out tying the game at one. Carlos Beltran would then line to first for the final out.
Both pitching staffs would remain solid until the tenth when the Cardinals looked to take the lead. David Freese led off with a single and went to third on a Jon Jay single two batters later. Matt Holliday would then come up with a chance to take the lead, but Bryan Morris would get him to ground into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
The Pirates would finally end it in the bottom of the eleventh. Russell Martin and Gaby Sanchez would both record one out walks and Alex Presley would ground a ball off of pitcher, Kevin Siegrist’s glove and into left field to score Martin and walk-off for the Pirates into first place in the NL Central by a ½ game. “It’s a challenge,” said manager, Clint Hurdle. “You don’t know what you’re going to get coming out. You’ve got two of the better teams in the league playing and doing things we’ve been able to do, things they’ve been able to do. Pitching was extremely good today, outstanding defense all over the place. As we’ve tried to script up all season, we scored one more run than the other team.”
One game-changing play came in the first with one out and runners on first and second. Carlos Beltran would rip a ball into right-center field where Cutch would make an outstanding diving catch and throw to first base for the inning-ending double play. “That play basically told me I needed to get my ……. together,” said Burnett. “I was up that first inning and he made that play and made me realize I needed to keep my stuff down.”
Final Score: Pirates 2, Cardinals 1
Starters Lines:
Burnett (ND): 7 IN, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K’s. 103 Pitches (71 Strikes)
Lynn (ND): 6 IN, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K’s. 97 Pitches (58 Strikes)
Game 2 of the double header will begin at 8:30
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(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images )
