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Pittsburgh Pirates 10, Seattle Marines 1: Stars And Stiffs
By Marty Leap
Powered by Gerrit Cole‘s first career complete game, the Pittsburgh Pirates dominated the Seattle Mariners 10-1 on Wednesday night.
The Pittsburgh Pirates improved to 52-48 on the season with a 10-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night. In Wednesday night’s victory the Pittsburgh Pirates played outstanding defense, scored early and often, and got a complete game from starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. Honestly, Wednesday night might have been the best all-around game the Pittsburgh Pirates have played all season.
After Wednesday night’s victory the Pittsburgh Pirates remain two and a half games behind the Miami Marlins for the second National League Wild Card spot. Also, after Wednesday night’s game Clint Hurdle announced that Steven Brault will start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night in Milwaukee. Anyway, here are the Pittsburgh Pirates’ three stars and stiffs from Wednesday night’s victory.
STARS
Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole – On Wednesday night Gerrit Cole made all of the idiotic Pittsburgh Pirates fans that do not think he is an ace look, well, idiotic. Gerrit Cole was absolutely dominant on Wednesday night, and this resulted in the first complete game of his professional career. In Wednesday night’s victory Gerrit Cole threw his first career complete game.
In his nine innings pitched Gerrit Cole allowed just three hits, zero walks, and he struck out six batters. On the season Cole now has a 2.78 ERA and a 2.88 FIP. Furthermore, Cole is averaging just 2.37 BB/9 and a career low 0.31 HR/9.
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On Wednesday night, Gerrit Cole showed why he is one of the best starting pitchers in the National League. Not only did Cole throw a complete game, he did it on just 93 pitches. All of his pitches were working on Wednesday night, and this included hitting 99 miles per hour on the radar gun in the ninth inning.
Gerrit Cole also contributed both in the field and at the plate. Cole made a great barehanded grab on a throw from David Freese to retire Nori Aoki for the second out of the third inning. Gerrit Cole also single to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning, and started a three run rally in the process.
On Wednesday night, Gerrit Cole was truly #Ace45.
Third baseman Jung Ho Kang – Hopefully Jung Ho Kang is breaking out of his slump. After recording a double in Tuesday night’s Pirate loss, Jung Ho Kang collected another double and drove in four runs on Wednesday night. On the season, Kang now has 35 RBI in just 215 plate appearances.
Jung Ho Kang went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and four RBI on Wednesday night. Kang’s walk came with the bases loaded and just one out in the bottom of the third inning. Then in the bottom of the bottom of the seventh inning Kang stepped to the plate with the bases loaded again, and this time he cranked a bases clearing double. After Wednesday night’s game Kang now has a .338 wOBA and a 114 wRC+.
Jung Ho Kang also had a fine defensive game on Wednesday night. The highlight of Kang’s defense came in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs Mariners’ shortstop Shawn O’Malley came to the plate and smoked a Gerrit Cole pitch toward third base. However, Jung Ho Kang was able to glove the ball and make the throw across the infield to retire O’Malley.
Center fielder Andrew McCutchen – Was Wednesday night the night? What night you ask. Well, the night Andrew McCutchen gets going at the plate that is. On the same day I called out McCutchen and said he needs benched, Cutch had one of his best games of the season.
In Wednesday night’s victory Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and four runs driven in. The most encouraging thing from McCutchen were that his double and home run were both hit in areas where McCutchen hits when things are going well. His double was into the right-center field gap, and his home run was crushed to straight away center field.
Will Wednesday night prove to be the night that got Andrew McCutchen going? Well, we will have to wait and see. But hopefully it was, because the Pittsburgh Pirates could dearly use it.
STIFFS
Right fielder Sean Rodriguez – Sean Rodriguez is having the best season of his career, but Wednesday night was not a good game for him. Well, at the plate at least. With a left-handed starting pitcher on the mound for the Mariners Sean Rodriguez got the start in right field and went 0-for-4 at the plate. Sean Rodriguez was the only Pittsburgh Pirate to be held without a hit on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez’s 0-for-4 included a strikeout, and him leaving men on base. Despite making a pair of great plays in the outfield, Rodriguez also committed an error on Wednesday night. Rodriguez dropped a line drive hit by Robinson Cano with one out in the top of the ninth inning. However, the Pirates were ale to clean it up with a double play.
Only one stiff tonight, yay! Wednesday night was arguably the best all-around game the Pittsburgh Pirates have played all season and they won 10-1. Therefore, only one stiff.
Next: Pirates' Prospect Roundup
That will do it for today. Wednesday night’s game was one of the most exciting on the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and it was a lot of fun. Now, the Pirates will enjoy an off day tomorrow before heading to Milwaukee this weekend. On the season the Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-2 against the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Bucs will send left-handed starter Steven Brault to the mound on Friday night.