Pittsburgh Pirates Take Game 3 of 4 in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 4: Felipe Rivero
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 4: Felipe Rivero /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have now won back-to-back games

On Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 5-2. With the win, the Pirates are now 39-46 this season. Furthermore, with the win, the Pirates have won back-to-back games over the Phillies

Despite a rocky start, the Bucs got a strong start from Gerrit Cole on Wednesday night. This started powered by a strong showing from the Pirate offense helped to power the Bucs to the victory.

All season long, Gerrit Cole has been plagued by the home run ball. It did not take long for the home run issue to rear its ugly head on Wednesday night.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 1st inning, Maikel Franco launched a 2 run home run to left field. This gave the Phillies an early 2-0 lead.

2-0 would remain the score until the top of the 4th inning.

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With 1 out, and Andrew McCutchen on base Josh Bell hit a triple to score McCutchen and cut the Phillies lead to 2-1. David Freese then hit a sacrifice fly to score Bell and tie the game at 2.

With 2 outs, the Pirates would continue to threaten. Gregory Polanco singled, Francisco Cervelli walked, and Jordy Mercer reached on a throwing error by pitcher Ben Lively. This loaded the bases with 2 outs.

Gerrit Cole then hit a ground ball under the glove of shortstop Freddy Galvis for a 2 run single. This gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead. Lively then got Josh Harrison to ground out to shortstop to end the top of the 4th inning.

The Pirate lead grew to 5-2 in the top of the 6th inning. After David Freese walked to start the inning, Jordy Mercer hit a 2 out triple to plate Freese making it 5-2 Pirates. This gives Mercer a team leading 4 triples this season.

After the Franco home run, Gerrit Cole would settle in. Cole wound up pitching 6 innings on Wednesday and held the Phillies to just the 2 runs on the Franco home run. He allowed 7 hits, 1 walk, and he struck out 8 batters.

The Pirate bullpen would pick up where Cole left off.

Daniel Hudson allowed a pair of singles in the bottom of the 7th inning but was able to post a zero. Hudson recorded a strikeout and also got help from Gregory Polanco who threw out Daniel Nava who was attempting to score on a fly out by Franco.

Juan Nicasio needed just 7 pitches to record a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th inning, and then Felipe Rivero took over in the bottom of the 9th. Rivero would allow a single, but he struck out the other 3 batters he faced while slamming the door on the Phillies.

Next: A Look at Travis MacGregor

The final game of this 4 game series is at 6:05 PM tomorrow night from Citizens Bank Park. Chad Kuhl is scheduled to start for the Pirates, while the Phillies plan to go with Jeremy Hellickson the Pirates will be looking for a series victory.