Andrew McCutchen Bomb Lifts Pirates Over Reds 6-5

How About A Big Cup of Marty Brennaman?

A.J. Burnett pitched six inning and allowed six hits, three runs, three walks and struckout eight with a plus breaking ball. Unfortunately, Tony Watson gave up a two-run bomb by Brandon Phillips to tie the game at five and blowing any chance for Burnett to get his first win of the season.

But Andrew McCutchen ensured that the ballclub got the win, and curiously a win for Watson with a solo bomb to the corner in left to give the Bucs a 6-5 lead.

Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli slammed the door on the Reds in the eighth and ninth to preserve the victory.

"“Melancon has been as clean as anybody.  People will want more and want him to get stretched out.  Everyone forgets about where he was last year.”  Clint Hurdle"

Grilli celebrated National Grilled Cheese day by giving the fans some edge of their seat moments by putting two Reds on base with two away in the ninth.

Brandon Phillips who hit two bombs in the game, one off Burnett and the other the bomb off Watson, struckout to end the game.  It. Was. Beautiful.

"“To get Phillips with a 3-2 breaking ball, that’s a big league pitch.”  Clint Hurdle"

The top four Pirates in the lineup had multiple hits as the Bucs bats came to life.  Starling Marte had two singles and stole a base.  Walker drove in two runs with a timely single and also scored two runs.  McCutchen drove in three runs as the Pirates had twelve hits on the night.