Braves Rip Pirates 18-9, Disney Trip Ruined For McPherson, Mazzaro, Watson

A few key Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers had some difficulty finding their location.  Numerous Atlanta Braves didn’t have any difficulty clubbing out 21 hits.  The Bucs offense responded with 16 hits and nine runs, but it wasn’t enough as only two went for extra bases–an Andrew McCutchen bomb and a Jordy Mercer triple.

It sounded like this game was a bad acid flashback of watching Matt Diaz highlights.  How in the hell does a team get fourteen singles?  Odd.  Anyway, the Pirates stranded eleven baserunners despite going 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The big Buccos  problem was pitching, or maybe it was the fact that Atlanta is just really, really good at hitting.  Kyle McPherson allowed ten hits, two bombs and nine runs, eight earned.  The Pirates committed three errors in the game.  Vin Mazzaro was able to get three outs but also allowed six earned runs and two home runs.  Tony Watson was able to get three outs but gave up three hits and just one home run.  Yeh, it was a pretty awful day at Disney.

The Braves jumped on McFear early sending ten batters to the plate in the first inning as the Tomahawk Choppers plated five runs in the first.  a Neil Walker error was followed by a Freddie Freeman bomb making the score 7-1 after two innings.

The Bucco right hander got a 1,2,3 third inning but then Andrelton Simmons hit a leadoff bomb in the fourth inning.  McPherson hit Dan Uggla to lead off the fifth inning, but then got two quick outs before his pitch count limit hit.

McPherson didn’t help his chances of being named the fifth starter with this final line:  4.2 innings, ten hits, nine runs, eight earned runs, three strikeouts and the one HBP.

The Braves put up a six spot with Mazzaro on the mound.  In his one inning of work…well nevermind it was bad.

Tim Alderson made an appearance and got a flyout.

Tony Watson pitched the seventh inning, making his first appearance in what seems like forever, and got shelled for three more Atlanta runs.