Pirates A.J. Burnett Magnificent, Again….

The Pittsburgh Pirates got a complete game from A.J. Burnett and took the series against the Colorado Rockies.  The fan favorite brought down the house at PNC Park with another dazzling display of his awesomeness as the Bucs pursuit of a post season berth continues.

Allen James Burnett’s 23rd complete game gave the packed PNC Park crowd plenty to cheer about.  The Bucs have now won six of eight games in the current home stand.  It’s an important homestand for the first-place Pirates who stayed ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central with the Cards pounding the Reds 15-2.

Fan favorite Burnett said after the game,

"“I’ve never been a part of anything like this and I will take the mound for these guys any day.”"

The right-hander filled up the strike zone missing only 27 times the entire game.  The last complete game for Burnett came last July against the Cubs.

In 28 starts at PNC Park, Burnett has an ERA under 3 and more importantly the home team has gone 18-10 with their leader on the bump.  It was his first win at PNC since May after being on the DL from June 13 to July 7 with a calf strain.

The thing about Burnett is this has been happening all season.  The staff leader has only been roughed up once, by the Atlanta Braves, and in every other start he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs.

Since coming off the DL, he’s been a man possessed allowing just eight earned runs in 38.2 innings pitched.

Burnett mentioned in the postgame that he wants to get to October.  Yeh, me too and with A.J. pitching like an ace, it doesn’t look inconceivable any longer.