Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates PIRATES BEAT MARINERS 4-1
W: Jeanmar Gomez (2-0)
L: Aaron Harang (1-4)
S: Jason Grilli (13)
After the clubhouse was closed following the afternoon media session, the Pirates suddenly announced around 4:00 p.m. that James McDonald was placed on the disabled list due to a sore shoulder. Many are obviously questioning whether McDonald is actually hurt, but nonetheless, that prompted to what the team was calling a surprise start for Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.38 ERA), who went on to pitch 5 shutout innings Tuesday night, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-14) to a 4-1 win over the Seattle Mariners (15-19).
Gomez allowed 2 hits, while striking out 5 to improve to 2-0 on the season with a 2.38 ERA. “A guy comes in here at four o’clock and you tell him he’s going to start, and to get that effort we were real happy,” manager Clint Hurdle said of Gomez’s performance.
The Pirates offensively got a big night from Andrew McCutchen (.276 – 4 HR – 18 RBI) who went 4-for-4 with an RBI double, and Garrett Jones (.286 – 4 HR – 17 RBI) hit a two-run homer in the 8th inning to push the Pirates lead to 4-1.
The Pirates scored twice in the first inning, an RBI single by Travis Snider (.288 – 0 HR – 6 RBI) scoring Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen drove in Snider with an RBI double.
Five Pirate relievers, Justin Wilson (1 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) Tony Watson (0.2, 1 H, 1 R, 1 SO), Jose Contreras (0.1 IP, 1 H), Mark Melancon (1 IP, 2 SO), Jason Grilli (1 IP, 2 SO) combined to allow 3 hits and 1 run over four innings.
The Pirates led 2-1 after the seventh inning, improving to 14-0 when leading after seven.
The 8th/9th inning combo of Mark Melancon (12 HLD, 0.53 ERA) and Jason Grilli (13 sv, 0.64) shut the door, pitching scoreless innings. Melancon earned his 12th hold of the season, while Grilli picked up his 13th save of the year.
