Volquez throws a “gem”, Sanchez provides clutch hitting as Pirates take 2 of 3 from Cards

Win: Tony Watson (1-0)

Loss: Adam Wainwright (1-1)

Save: Jason. Grilli (1)

The biggest development for the Pirates (4-2) through the first week of the season has been Edison Volquez and clutch hitting from Tony Sanchez. Volquez who was a mess in spring training, had an excellent outing, allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run in 5 2/3 innings as the Pirates took 2 of 3 from the St. Louis Cardinals (3-3) in winning 2-1 this afternoon.

Volquez struck out 4 and walked 1, while throwing 81 pitches, 53 for strikes. Matt Carpenter opened the game with a lead off single and Volquez would retire the next 16 batters he faced until Adam Wainwright singled to center in the top of the 6th.

One big improvement from Volquez today and in his relief appearence from Thursday has been his fastball command. “He pitched a gem,” manager Clint Hurdle said of Volquez. “What you saw was fastball command with a downhill angle, big time spin and tilt on the breaking ball, good changeup and getting ahead with good pitches,” Hurdle said.

• Tony Sanchez delivered the game winning run with an RBI double with two outs in the 7th. Sanchez doubled to deep center off Cards Ace Adam Wainwright, scoring Pedro Alvarez, Wainwright walked Alvarez to lead off the inning. The Pirates would love for Sanchez to prove himself this year whether it’s in the Majors or in Triple-A  that he can be a full-time starter next season and hold down the position until Reese McGuire is ready.
• Tony Watson got the win, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Watson has thrown 23.2 consecutive scoreless innings (regular season). The last time Watson allowed a run was against Colorado on August 3, 2013.