Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates PIRATES 7 – BREWERS 1
Win: Charlie Morton
Loss: Tom Gorzelanny
POST-GAME BUZZ
The Pirates got strong starting pitching from Charlie Morton and production up and down their lineup, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 on Wednesday night. The Pirates earn win No. 77 on the season and improve to 77-55 on the season. They project to gain a game on the NL Central leading Cardinals who are losing 9-0 to the Reds in the bottom of the 6th.
CHUCK STRONG: Charlie Morton (6-3, 3.14 ERA) improved to 6-3, allowing 5 hits and 1 run in 6 2/3 innings. It was Morton’s fifth straight start where he has allowed 2 earned runs or less. He played the role of the stopper tonight as the Pirates snapped a three game losing streak.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Marlon Byrd (.284 – 22 HR – 74 RBI) went 1-4 in his Pirates debut and his one hit was a big one. With the Pirates leading 4-1, Byrd put the game away with a three-run homer to center in the seventh, scoring Josh Harrison and Jory Mercer as the Pirates took a commanding 7-1 lead. It was Byrd’s 22nd home run of the season and those type of moments is why the Pirates had been trying to acquire Byrd since July. Byrd had good at-bats all night. In his first at-bat, he hit a hard liner up the middle that Tom Gorzelanny made a great grab on and in the bottom of the 4th Byrd had a 14 pitch at-bat where he struck out.
HIT PARADE: The Pirates managed 15 hits in Tuesday night’s 7-6 loss and tonight followed that up with 13 hits. Josh Harrison (.294 – 2 HR – 11 RBI) and Gaby Sanchez (.250 – 7 HR – 34 RBI) each had 3 hits, while Jordan Mercer (.278 – 6 HR – 22 RBI) and Andrew McCutchen (.323 – 17 HR – 74 RBI) collected 2 hits each.
Creative Lineup?: Facing lefty Tom Gorzelanny, manager Clint Hurdle went with a somewhat creative lineup against the lefty. He put Josh Harrison in the leadoff spot and Jordy Mercer in the No. 2 slot and it paid dividends. Harrison went 3-4 with an RBI, 3 runs scored and Mercer went 2-3, RBI double, 1 run and a walk. The Pirates 1-3 hitters, Harrison, Mercer and McCutchen went a combined 7-11 with 3 RBIs.
Next Up: 8/29/13 – 7:05 p.m. | MIL Yovani Gallardo (9-9, 4.61 ERA) vs PIT Gerrit Cole (6-6, 3.81 ERA)
