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 Locke worked five shutout innings before giving up two runs in the
sixth as the Pirates claimed a 3-2 interleague decision over the
Chicago White Sox and their seventh straight victory.
"He had five masterful innings, he retired the first nine hitters he
faced," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. "Fastball both sides
of the plate, he threw enough curve balls and changeups to keep them
off the fastball and made it quicker. He hit his spots. It was a
real good overall outing."
Jung Ho Kang's first-inning home run gave the Pirates a lead they
never surrendered. The two-run shot to right, his fourth of the
season, provided an early 3-0 advantage as the Pirates went on to
their third in-a-row over the White Sox.
Chicago dropped its sixth straight.
"I realize that Danks has really good command, good control on his
pitches," Kang said through a translator. "I thought going for first
pitch -- because the pitcher goes for the first strike -- was the
best decision I could have made."
Locke (4-3) worked six innings for the victory while Chicago
left-hander John Danks (3-7) suffered his third straight loss.
Pittsburgh right-hander Mark Melancon worked a one-two-three ninth
for his 22nd save.
The Pirates maintained the shutout until the sixth when Locke
allowed four straight runners to reach.
Chicago left fielder Melky Cabrera's two-out double off Locke scored
center fielder Adam Eaton.
That broke a 30-inning White Sox scoreless streak and also snapped a
run of 35 consecutive shutout innings by the Pirates.
Right fielder Avisail Garcia later doubled to left, driving in
Cabrera to trim the Pirate lead to 3-2.
Locke departed after six innings. He allowed two runs on three hits,
struck out eight and walked two.
"He got us to a good point in the game," Hurdle said. "A couple of
walks in the sixth complicated things and they came up with some
timely hits. ... (But) he made the pitches he needed to put the
inning away."
After his rocky first inning, Danks remained in the game through the
seventh and gave up only two hits after the first. He gave up three
runs on five hits and struck out four.
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"Besides the first inning, Johnny (Danks) pitched great," said White
Sox manager Robin Ventura. "We ended up scratching and clawing and
getting to one run and not being to finally tie it up."
First innings have been troublesome all season as Chicago has been
outscored 56-19 in the opening frame.
"I don't know if you necessarily have an answer for it," Ventura
said. "If they knew it they wouldn't be giving up runs in the first
inning. But it is definitely concerning to be able to get through
that first inning and not give up anything."
Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a run
and an RBI. Cabrera had the same for the White Sox.
The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Second baseman Josh Harrison led off with a double to left, reached
third on center fielder Starling Marte's grounder and scored on
McCutchen's base hit to center.
Kang then launched a first-pitch homer to right against Danks that
scored McCutcheon for the 3-0 lead.
Ventura was ejected in the bottom of the fourth after center fielder
Adam Eaton was tagged out at second while trying to steal. It was
11th time in Ventura's managerial career that he was tossed.
NOTES: Pirates CF Starling Marte left the game in the ninth inning
with left ankle discomfort. ... Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen batted
third and made the most of a rare designated hitter assignment with
a first-inning RBI single to center. ... The Pirates swept their
last two series and lead the major leagues with seven this season.
... Pittsburgh sends RHP Gerrit Cole (10-2, 1.71 ERA) against
Chicago RHP Jeff Samardzija (4-4, 4.84) in Thursday's series finale.
... The White Sox returned to U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday after
an 0-5 road trip, including back-to-back shutout losses to the
Pirates. Chicago is 12-22 away from home.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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