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 Nicasio kept it simple but was also dazzling, allowing one run and
two hits in six innings, as the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals
5-1 Wednesday to sweep the three-game series to open the season.
Signed to a one-year, $3 million contract as a free agent in
December after pitching primarily in relief for the Los Angeles
Dodgers last season, Nicasio (1-0) struck out seven and did not walk
a batter. That followed an outstanding spring training in which he
pitched 15 scoreless innings and had 24 strikeouts.
"I was just taking it hitter-by-hitter, pitch-by-pitch, just like I
did in spring training," Nicasio said. "I didn't try to think too
much. I just concentrated on throwing strikes and getting people out
and it worked."
Hurdle was pleased.
"He was very aggressive, especially with the fastball," Hurdle said.
"It was a continuation of what we saw from Juan in spring training.
He did a job of carrying over the adjustments he made down in
Florida."
Added Cardinals manager Mike Matheny: "It looked like he had a good
fastball and a good slider. He used them effectively and was working
ahead in counts, not a lot of free bases. He kept us off-balance."
It marks the first time the Pirates have opened a season 3-0 since
2007. The Cardinals (100-62) and Pirates (98-64) had the two best
regular-season records in the major leagues last season while
finishing 1-2 in the National League Central.
The Pirates have finished second to the Cardinals in the division
race each of the last three seasons, settling for a berth in the NL
wild card each year. However, Hurdle downplayed any idea that there
may be a changing of the guard in the NL Central.
"We're past the point of being surprised when we play well," Hurdle
said. "It's a good way to start but it's just three games."
Mike Leake (0-1) did not have such a great Cardinals' debut as he
was tagged for four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He also
had three walks and only one strikeout after signing a five-year,
$80 million contract in December as a free agent.
"I couldn't hit my spots," Leake said. "I couldn't throw strikes. I
was just erratic. I have things to work on."
Mark Melancon retired the only batter he faced for his first save,
getting Kolten Wong to hit into a force out with runners on first
and second.
Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte had two hits each for the
Pirates.
The Cardinals' lone run came when rookie outfielder Jeremy
Hazelbaker hit his first career home run to lead off the sixth
inning in his first major league start. He played center field as
Randal Grichuk got the night off after going 1-for-9 in the first
two games.
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Leake struggled in his first inning with the Cardinals, giving up
two hits, walking two and throwing 42 pitches. Yet the Pirates
managed only one run on Gregory Polanco's bases-loaded walk before
Leake snared a liner back through the box by Josh Harrison to the
end the inning.
The Pirates scored three runs in fifth to increase their lead to
4-0.
Francisco Cervelli's two-run double capped the inning and knocked
Leake from the game. John Jaso led off the inning with a triple high
off the right-field wall and continued home on second baseman Kolten
Wong's off-target relay throw.
Sean Rodriguez's pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth gave the Pirates
a 5-1 cushion.
NOTES: Cardinals C Yadier Molina tied the franchise record with his
1,439th game caught, equaling the mark set by Ted Simmons from 1968
to 1980. ... Cardinals RHP Matt Bowman, who was selected from the
New York Mets in the Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings, pitched
two scoreless innings in his major league debut. ... Pirates LHP
Corey Luebke, who underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow
surgeries in both 2013 and 2014, made his first appearance in a
major league game since April 29, 2012 with San Diego and retired
two of the four batters he faced. ... Pirates 3B Jung Ho Kang
(recovering from reconstructive left knee surgery) played five
innings in a minor league intrasquad game in Bradenton, Fla., and
had four at-bats, though he was limited to running only to first
base. ... Pirates RHP Jared Hughes (strained left lat) threw off the
slope of the mound at Bradenton and is expected to throw off the top
of the mound in the next few days. ... Both teams are off Thursday
before opening three-game series on Friday night. The Cardinals play
the Braves at Atlanta with LHP Jaime Garcia (10-6, 2.43 ERA in 2015)
facing RHP Matt Wisler (8-8, 4.71 ERA in 2015). The Pirates face the
Reds at Cincinnati with LHP Francisco Liriano (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
opposing RHP Alfredo Simon (13-12, 5.05 ERA in 2015).
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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