Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates DODGERS 1 – PIRATES 0
A.J. Burnett allowed 4 hits and 1 run in 5 1/3 innings and Pirates relievers Jared Hughes, Mark Melancon, and Tony Watson combined to throw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief but it wasn’t enough for the Pirates who were shutout in consecutive games, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers (3-2) 1-0 on Saturday night.
To no surprise the Pirates (1-4) were unable to solve Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw who pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out nine and walking one. At times it looked like Kershaw was facing minor league hitters.
The Pirates managed just two hits overall in the game and remain stuck at scoring just six runs on the season.
Starling Marte went 2 for 4 and had the only hits in the game, a single in the first inning off Kershaw and an infield single in the top of the sixth.
In addition to their struggles to hit, the Pirates in game managing and decision making has been very poor. In three of five games this season the Pirates have managed two hits or less.
Burnett gave the team another solid start aside from the four walks. Burnett had a nasty curveball going and struck out 9 batters. Burnett leads the National League with 19 strikeouts.
Jeff Locke will make his first start of the season today vs the Dodgers.
