After being held to just one run in the last two game against the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates offense came alive this afternoon for seven runs as the Pirates defeated the Tigers by a score of 7-4.
The Pittsburgh Pirates offense was on a cold streak the last couple days only scoring one run in each of the last two games. However, the bats came alive today scoring seven runs en-route to defeating the Detroit Tigers by a final score of 7-4. The offense was able to help out starter Jon Niese who started the game out well, but got a little roughed up late in the outing.
In total, Niese threw 6.0 innings giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits while walking one and striking out five. The home run ball was a problem for Niese as he gave up two on the afternoon. However, both were solo shots so the damage was not as great as it could be against the Pirates starter.
One thing Niese has been very good with to start out is his command. He has only walked one batter in each start and currently has a strikeout to walk ratio of 6.00. Last season he had a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.05 meaning for every walk he struck out two batters. If he can continue to show the control he has in the first two starts, it will be a much better 2016 for the left-hander.
The Pirates offense wasted no time providing run support for their starter. The Pirates scored at least one run in each of the first innings of today's game. Before Niese even took the hill he was already staked to a 1-0 lead. The offense jumped on Justin Verlander scoring early and often putting the Pirates out to a big lead.
In the first, Jon Jaso started things off with a double followed by an Andrew McCutchen fly out that moved him to third base. Then designated hitter Matt Joyce singled to left to score the first Pirates run of the ball game. It was questioned coming into the series, as it always is, who would serve as the DH for the Pirates. Joyce got the call today and performed quite nicely for the Bucs.
Joyce finished the day going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Making the squad as a non-roster invitee, Joyce had not seen a lot of time in the starting lineup before today. He only had six plate appearances and was 0 for 3 with three walks in a pinch hitting role. Today, he got his shot in the starting lineup and contributed early on.
The Pirates continued the scoring in the second as the Bucs loaded the bases with one out after a Gregory Polanco Double, a Josh Harrison single, and a Sean Rodriguez walk. Then, Jordy Mercer stepped up and lined a two-RBI single to center field scoring both Polanco and Harrison and giving the Pirates an early 3-1 lead.
The scoring would continue for the Pirates in the third and fourth innings as two sacrifice flies by Jon Jaso and Francisco Cervelli put the Pirates up 5-1 after four innings of play. The Pirates would finish their scoring in inning number five as an RBI double by Gregory Polanco and an RBI single by Sean Rodriguez made the score 7-1 Pirates after four and a half innings.
The Pirates bats were able to get to Justin Verlander as he threw 111 pitches in 4.1 innings giving up seven runs on ten hits while walking two and striking out two. Verlander struggled in his first start of the year against the Miami Marlins giving up three runs in six innings in that game. At one point, Verlander was considered one of the best arms in the game, however, the last couple seasons he has been hit hard and it has effected him on the mound.
Niese gave up what would be his second run of the day in the bottom of inning number five when he gave up a home run to Nick Castellanos, the second one he had given up in the game to make the score 7-2 Pirates. They would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on an error by Mercer that allowed Jose Iglesias to score and an RBI single by Victor Martinez.
That is all of the offense that Detroit could muster on the day, however, as the back end of the Pirates bullpen came in and shut the door once again. Neftali Feliz, Tony Watson, and Mark Melancon each threw scoreless outings in the final three innings of the game to give the Pirates the victory today. The group has combined to give up only one run through the first seven games of the season.
Feliz pitched the seventh and threw a perfect inning striking out one batter. Watson followed with a scoreless inning of his own while walking a batter and striking one out. Finally, Melancon finished the game throwing his 1.0 inning giving up one hit and striking out a batter while collecting his third save of the season.
Overall, the offense combined for 17 hits on the day, which is a season high for the team. The offense wasnt able to cash in on some key situations the last two days, but today they capitalized on the opportunities handed to them. However, they still left 17 runners on base, so this score could have been a lot worse, but the Pirates scored in bunches today and picked up a much needed victory.
The Pirates and Tigers will play game two of their four game home-and-home series tomorrow afternoon at Comerica Park. On the mound for the Tigers will be right hander Anibal Sanchez (1-0 3.60). Last time out Sanchez faced the Miami Marlins throwing 6.0 innings giving up two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out three. The Pirates will oppose with right-hander Juan Nicasio (1-0 1.50). Nicasio is coming off a great Pirates debut in which he went 6.0 innings giving up one run on two hits while striking out seven St. Louis Cardinal batters. First pitch for tomorrow afternoon's game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
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