Jordy Mercer hit a walk-off single in inning number 11 that scored Gregory Polanco giving the Pirates a 6-5 victory. Jonathan Niese struggled in his Pirates debut giving up five runs (four earned) in five innings of work.
It took 11 innings last night, but in the end, the Pirates came out on top defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 at PNC Park. Jordy Mercer hit the game winning RBI single in the 11th that scored Gregory Polanco and sent Pirates fans home happy on a chilly Tuesday evening. Jonathan Niese made his Pirates debut and struggled on the mound tonight.
In total, he threw 5.0 innings giving up five runs, four earned, on four hits while walking win one and striking out seven. Niese started out the game strong by throwing two perfect innings retiring the first six men he faced. However, the Cardinals scored two runs in inning number three and everything fell apart from there.
Niese started out the game strong striking out two of the first three batters he faced and only allowed one hit through the first two innings of play. A two-run home run by Jed Gyorko ruined the festivities, however, and Niese could never really recover. Lucky for him though, the Pirates offense came ready to play tonight and scored enough runs to come out on top.
The Pirates started the scoring in the bottom of the second when they plated two runs off of Cardinals starter Michael Wacha. Francisco Cirvelli started things off with a single and was driven in on an RBI triple from right fielder Gregory Polanco. Polanco would later score on a ground out by Josh Harrison to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.
Polanco has had a hot start to the season hitting .500 (3 for 6) in the first two games of the season. He was signed to a five-year $35 million deal yesterday and is proving early on that he is worth the money. Polanco has scored two runs this season and has driven in two RBI as he looks to continue to lead this team in 2016.
The Cardinals wasted no time coming back, however, as an RBI single by Stephen Piscotty and a RBI ground out by Matt Holiday made the score 2-2 after 2.5 innings of play. Niese gave up a lot of base runners in this inning and it started what would become the downfall of Niese on the night. He never recovered after this inning and looked bad the rest of the night.
The Pirates responded again in the bottom of the third as John Jaso started the inning with a single and was driven in one batter later on an Andrew McCutchen RBI double making the score 3-2 Pittsburgh. McCutchen had a great offensive day for the Bucs going 3 for 5 on the night with an RBI and a run scored.
After not getting a hit on Opening Day against Adam Wainright, McCutchen broke through tonight and was a leader on the offensive side of the ball. Coming off of a season in which he won his fourth consecutive silver slugger award, McCutchen has been an offensive staple in the Pirates lineup throughout his career and looks to continue this season.
The Cardinals would take the lead in the top of the fourth as Gyorko hit his two-run home run that scored former Pirates Brandon Moss and gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. They would tack on another run in the top of the fifth when Holiday reached on a throwing error by Mercer that scored Piscotty and gave the Cardinals a 5-3 lead.
The offensive battle kept going in the bottom of the fifth as the Pirates loaded the bases with one out and that brought up Francisco Cirvelli. Cirvelli capitalized on a Cardinal error and reached on a force play. However, the throw by short stop Aledyms Diaz went into the outfield and allowed McCutchen to score to pull the Pirates within one. Then Polanco came up and delivered a sacrifice fly that scored David Freese and tied the game at five.
Then it was a battle of the bullpens for the next several innings as both the Cardinals and Pirates bullpens dazzled from the sixth inning on. In total the two teams combined for 12 pitchers who gave up five hits through 10 innings of work. The Pirates bullpen was able to hold off the Cardinals, However, and lead the Pirates to victory.
Arquimedes Caminero, Tony Watson, Neftali Feliz, and Mark Melancon each threw an inning of work giving up no runs on a combined two hits in four innings of work. The back end of the bullpen has proved to be a strong point for the Pirates so far in 2016. In two games the bullpen has given up only one run in ten innings of work.
Kyle Lobstein came in to the game in inning number 10 and threw 2.0 innings giving up no runs on one hit while walking one and striking out three. Lobstein was in the competition for the fifth starter spot, but lost out to both Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio. Lobstein proved his worth last night however, picking up the win in the ll inning victory.
Then in the bottom of the inning, Jordy Mercer stepped up with runners on first and second and one out. He promptly delivred the 2-2 pitch into right field past a diving Matt Adams and it was enough to score Gregory Polanco and give the Pirates the 6-5 victory. The win improved the Pirates record to 2-0 as they take the first two games from the Cardinals.
The Pirates and Cardinals finish up there three game series tonight at PNC Park at 7:05 p.m. The Cardinals will be sending newly acquired Mike Leake to the hill. The Pirates will counter with Juan Nicasio who one the battle for the fifth starter spot out of spring training. First pitch for tonights contest is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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