|
 The Pirates' magic number for making the playoffs is two. They could
assure themselves of playing in the postseason by beating the
Rockies on Tuesday night and having the San Francisco Giants and
Washington Nationals both lose.
Pirates left fielder Starling Marte tied his career high with four
hits and drove in two runs with a first-inning homer and
sixth-inning double. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez also homered in
the first off Rockies starter Jon Gray (0-2), who had allowed two
homers in 36 innings in eight previous starts.
Shortstop Jordy Mercer matched his career high with four hits,
including two run-scoring doubles, as the Pirates won their third
consecutive game following a four-game skid.
A.J. Burnett (9-5) held the Rockies to three runs, two earned, and
threw 98 pitches in 5 2/3 innings before five Pittsburgh relievers
combined to hold the Rockies scoreless for the final 3 1/3 innings.
It was Burnett's third start after missing six weeks due to right
elbow inflammation.
"Every outing I think he's gotten better," Pirates manager Clint
Hurdle said. "We spiked the pitch count up today close to 100. We'll
see how he feels tomorrow, but I think there's a lot of good signs
he's regaining form. I think it gives us a real good shot in the arm
for our rotation."
Burnett allowed six hits and four walks while striking out five. He
left with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, but Antonio
Bastardo got center fielder Charlie Blackmon to hit an inning-ending
flyout.
The Rockies, trailing 6-3 at the time, left the bases loaded for the
second inning in a row. Burnett struck out Arenado to end the fifth,
an inning that should have been much easier for the 38-year-old
pitcher.
The Pirates should have turned a double play that would have left
the Rockies with two outs and the bases empty, but first baseman
Pedro Alvarez dropped an easy throw. Left fielder Corey Dickerson
singled off the right field wall, and catcher Tom Murphy followed
with his second career homer in his fifth game.
"I thought he dealt all through up into the fifth," Hurdle said of
Burnett. "We weren't able to put the double-play ball away. It
tacked on 18 more pitches. I think the fatigue of the inning took
something away from him. He threw 30 pitches in that inning. That's
tough duty here at altitude."
Burnett's five strikeouts gave him 2,499 for his career, leaving him
on the verge of becoming the 32nd pitcher in major league history
with 2,500 strikeouts. Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson ranks 31st
with 2,507 strikeouts.
Burnett trails only CC Sabathia (2,568) among active pitchers in
strikeouts.
Mercer, who went 4-for-5, entered the game 16-for-72 (.223) in 23
games since coming off the disabled list Aug. 23 following a left
knee injury that caused him to miss 30 games. He doubled home
catcher Francisco Cervelli in the second and again in the fourth,
putting the Pirates ahead 5-0 at that point, and singled in the
sixth and ninth.
[to top of second column] |
Mercer was never on the disabled list before getting injured in
July. He said he was looking for immediate results upon his
activation, but he now realizes it is not that easy.
"That's what's been tough is to just stay with the process," Mercer
said. "And that's what a lot of people have told me -- continue to
stay with the process and continue to get your work in and it's
eventually going to turn."
Gray lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs and nine hits,
including two homers and two run-scoring doubles, while throwing 81
pitches. Gray is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four road starts and 0-1
with an 8.27 ERA in five starts at Coors Field.
"One thing I really need to work on is setting sights here," Gray
said. "I know it it's not going to break as much. Fastballs are not
going to have as much sink or run. I really think it just comes from
mindset. I think I really need to work on pitch location. That's
really going to be a difference-maker pitching at Coors."
NOTES: Pirates INF Jung Ho Kang (left knee surgery) was placed on
the 60-day disabled list. The Pirates selected the contract of OF
Keon Broxton from Triple-A Indianapolis. Broxton made his major
league debut as a pinch runner in the ninth. He stole third base and
scored on a throwing error ... Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa was
scratched from his start Wednesday due to right Achilles tendinitis.
RHP Christian Bergman will start in his place. ... Colorado LHP
Yohan Flande must throw a bullpen session Wednesday in order to make
his scheduled start Friday against the Dodgers. Flande sustained a
left patellar tendon contusion when he was struck just below the
left knee with a line drive in his Saturday start. ... Rockies C Tom
Murphy made his fourth start. Manager Walt Weiss said he intends to
alternate Murphy and fellow rookie C Dustin Garneau pretty much on a
daily basis. Season-ending injuries to C Michael McKenry and C Nick
Hundley resulted in the promotions of Garneau on Aug. 19 and Murphy
on Sept. 11 from Triple-A Albuquerque.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
