Charlie Morton Electric In 6-1 Pirates Victory

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Charlie Morton baffled the Houston Astros.  Don’t pay any attention to the boxscore.  This was a masterpiece for the Buccos right hander.   He went 7.2 innings threw 94 pitches with 68 of those for strikes.  Morton threw first pitch strikes to 22 of 31 batters.

Morton relied heavily on his fastball and mixed pitches well inducing twelve ground ball outs compared to just two fly ball outs. (Andrew McCutchen made a nice grab on one of those.) Morton walked one batter, struckout five.

Morton looked like a technician. It was nearly impossible for the Astros to square up his Electric Stuff. He now has five quality starts.

Lyle Overbay homered and Andrew McCutchen crushed a two-out, two-run double to stake the Bucs to another early lead in the second inning.  Cutch had two hits on the night and certainly looks like he is busting out of the slide.  He jumped on Houston starter Bud Norris early in counts which was a sight for sore eyes setting up a Mother’s Day rubber match tomorrow afternoon.

It was awesome to watch in the eighth inning when Brandon Wood delivered a crushing bases loaded double into the left field corner.  All of the fans helped with the call for the ump.  It was a cool sight and put the Pirates ahead 5-1.

The three insurance runs (Snyder scored on a wild pitch) sat down Joel Hanrahan in the bullpen who was heating up for his tenth save opportunity.  Daniel McCutchen got the job done adding another yet another inning to his 13 scoreless on the season.

Hurdle

We have to be more efficient offensively.

(Dunlap asked about Correia and Morton not nibbling with two strikes) It’s what Ray has preached. We need to put people away. Pitch with confidence. Pitch to the bat. Our defense is polished now, we’ve played how many Jimmy without an error? (Five)

It’s a good feeling. We had a nice crowd. The weather has been challenging.

(A question about the lack of runs for Paul Maholm) Paul is a professional. There is no doubt he would like to see five or six on the board. But he has controlled what he can control.

Morton

I think I threw more (sinkers) in Cincinnatti.

(Does it make it easy when you can throw the curveball for a strike:) All stems from delivery. If it’s all the same, the pitches will be more consistent.

After the seventh, I start to smell blood. But I didn’t finish them off.

(In response to the standing ovation) I tipped my cap to the crowd…. I didn’t know what to do right there.

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