Pirates Win 3-1, Still Full Game Back of Cardinals

Sep 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates fans celebrate a win against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Pirates won 10-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on back-to-back doubles from Travis Snider and Andrew McCutchen in the eighth inning.  Gaby Sanchez hit his seventh homer of the season to get the Buccos offense started and the Pirates rallied late to drop the Reds, but the Cardinals were victorious in ten innings.  The Pirates remain one game back in the National League Central.

Snider drove in Josh Harrison who reached on a two-strike, two-out single through the middle of the diamond.  Snider, the Pirates hot down the stretch right fielder, blistered a shot to right field that Jay Bruce put a circus tent under before the ball rolled to the wall at Great American Ballpark.  Up stepped Andrew McCutchen who scorched a double that plated Snider.

Vance Worley pitched well, but the win went to reliever Jared Hughes.  Worley pitched 6.1 innings and scattered eight hits.  Tony Watston held the eighth and Mark Melancon got his 33rd save of the season closing out the Reds in the ninth.

Gaby Sanchez got the start for Ike Davis who has’ stronger than flu like symptoms’ and is hopefully boarded up in the team hotel in Cincy, or better yet at his home.  Sanchez got the Bucs on the board with his seventh homer of the year into the Reds bullpen.   The Pirates bats struggled against Mike Leake who struck out eight in seven innings and allowed just two walks and three hits.

It was the same mantra however for the Pirates bats who worked counts and then got to the bullpen in the eighth inning.  The Pirates briefly were half a game back of the Cardinals, but the Birds won 7-6 in extra innings over the Diamondbacks.  Yet another one run win for the Cardinals after the All-Star break.

Russell Martin left the game with his hamstring injury again.  The Bucs catcher walked after a check swing with a full count.  He appeared to tweek the hamstring as he slammed his bat, threw his left shin guard and limped toward first base.  Clint Hurdle immediately inserted Chase d’Arnaud as a pinch runner–who was later thrown out at second base with two outs.