Quick Turnaround good for Pirates after Burnett’s disaster of an outing

MORNING PIRATES BUZZ

The Pirates are down 1-0 in the NLDS and Game 1 got away from them quickly as A.J. Burnett was terrible and just didn’t have it from the start. There’s no analysis around it. Burnett was awful and gave the Pirates no chance as the first eight Cardinals reached base safely in the third inning and the Pirates were rocked for seven runs in the inning, en route to a 9-1 loss.

Burnett made some history as he became just the 8th starter in major-league history to allow 7 earned runs and get 6 outs or fewer in a postseason game. It’s been no secret that Burnett has been dreadful at Bush Stadium and unfortunately that continued Thursday. In five starts at Bush Stadium since 2012, Burnett has allowed 37 hits and 31 runs in his last 18 innings pitched at Bush.

“He didn’t have his stuff today,” manager Clint Hurdle said.

Hurdle dropped the ball not realizing he had to get Burnett out of there earlier, though it likely would not have mattered with how well Adam Wainwright was pitching, but the third inning obviously sucked everything out of the Pirates.

If the Pirates get to Game 5, I don’t see how Hurdle can turn to Burnett with his constant struggles at Bush Stadium.

Hurdle would not commit to Burnett if there ends up being a Game 5. “I do believe that he’s capable of going out and throwing a gem the next time he’s out there, wherever that may be,” Hurdle said.

For the Pirates, the good thing is that it’s such a quick turnaround for Game 2 with the 1:00 p.m. start today. When you suffer the type of blowout loss the Pirates suffered, you want to get right back at it and get the bad test out of your mouth.

This team has showed the ability to bounce back all season and don’t be surprised if they do that today with Gerrit Cole taking the mound. “Game 164 was rough,” Hurdle said Thursday. “That’s one of the things we’ve been real good at is we don’t overcook things. We knew coming in we had to find a way to win a game here. We’re down one game in the series, and we’ll move on.”

Although Cole has no playoff experience, no situation seems too big for him so don’t be looking for Cole to be rattled today in his first career playoff start. “It’s going to be unbelievable,” Cole said. “You’re in enemy territory. The place is going to be loud. It’s going to be rocking,” said Cole.