Vance Worley continues trend of Pirates getting dominant starting pitching this week

Win Vance Worley (5-1)

Loss: Ian Kennedy (8-10)

Save: Mark Melancon (21)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (62-53) continued their dominance at home, an MLB best 17-4 at PNC Park since June 19, and again got dominant starting pitching in a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres (52-62) on Friday night in front of a packed house to move a season high nine games above .500.

It has been an excellent week so far from Pirate starters, as Vance Worley (5-1, 2.30 ERA) struck a season high seven batters in seven innings of work, allowing five hits and one run, while walking just one batter to earn his 5th win of the season.

Worley lived up to his nickname of Vanimal and had a fastball-slider/cutter combination working tonight. He struck out the side in the seventh inning to cap off his strong outing, getting Will Benable looking at an 84 mph slider and Worley went to his fastball against his final two batters of the night, striking Rence Rivera out with a fastball on the outside corner, than with a full count, Worley got Alexi Amarista out with a swing and miss on a 90 mph fastball.

“His cutter played extremely well,” Manager Clint Hurdle said. How well Worley’s slider and cutter were working after the first inning, led to Worley’s fastball coming alive in the seventh and catching the Padres off-guard, the pitcher noted afterwards.

Worley has lowered his ERA to 0.96 in four starts since the All-Star break. During that span he has posted a stat line of:

28 IP – 23 hits – 3 ER – 17 K – 5 BB – 0.96 ERA.

• Josh Harrison extended his hitting streak to 12 games, going 3-3 with a triple, 2 singles, run scored, walk. Harrison led off the game with a triple. He injured his ankle mid-way through the game but is expected to be okay.
• Fresh off a four RBI game, Gregory Polanco went 3-4 with a double, RBI, run scored
• Mark Melancon closed out the ninth for his 21st save of the season. Melancon has 0 blown saves since officially taking over the closers role on June 20th.
• The Pirates have moved into the top wildcard spot with losses from San Francisco (62-54) and St. Louis (61-53) tonight.