Let the Good Times Roll: Pittsburgh Pirates Continue to Roll, Beat Padres

The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to roll early on in the 2018 season

4. Final. 4. 127. 5

Thursday night at PNC Park the Pittsburgh Pirates started a four-game series against the San Diego Padres. In a game that saw iffy starting pitching and defense from both teams, the Pirates emerged victorious over the Padres by a score of 5-4.

With the win, the Pirates improve to a season high 9 games over .500 at 26-17. They are also now 9-3 this year in one run games, 6-0 in one run games at PNC Park, and 15-6 overall at their home ballpark.

Entering the top of the 3rd inning the game was tied. After a Freddy Galvis single and walk by Manuel Margot – the team’s seven and eight hitters – the Padres were setting the table in search of the game’s first run. Following a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Eric Lauer, an infield hit by Travis Jankowski would bring home Galvis and give the Padres a 1-0 lead.

The Padres would get a second run on a fielder’s choice by Eric Hosmer. Kuhl, however, would limit the damage to just a pair of runs in the inning.

Ugly defense would return in the bottom of the 4th inning as it was the Padres turn to butcher a fly ball. With Francisco Cervelli and Josh Bell on base, Corey Dickerson hit a ball to left field that had a 99% catch rate according to Stat Cast. San Diego left fielder Franchy Cordero would badly misplay the ball leading to a 2-run double by Dickerson. Sean Rodriguez would then drive in Dickerson to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Despite limiting the damage in the 3rd inning, Kuhl’s struggles were not over.

With 1-out in the top of the 5th inning, Kuhl allowed a double to Lauer. Gregory Polanco gets a big assist on the double though due to taking a terrible route to the ball causing him to miss one that should have been caught.

After walking Jankowski, Kuhl would allowing a ringing 2-run double to Hosmer that scored a pair of runs, put the Padres ahead 4-3, and ended Kuhl’s night. Steven Brault would then enter the game to clean up the 5th inning.

Kuhl allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings pitched on Thursday night. With yet another poor start, it is hard to justify Kuhl remaining in the rotation over Nick Kingham or the returning Joe Musgrove who is set to make his Pirate debut in Cincinnati next week.

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To the Pirates’ credit, they would respond in the bottom of the 5th inning to tie the game.

Max Moroff reached on a bunt single to start the inning and Cervelli walked with 1-out. Bell would then rip a ground ball up the middle to score Moroff, tying the game at 4 runs a piece after 5 innings of play.

Brault would give the Pirates some needed length out of the bullpen. In 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, Brault allowed 3 hits, he did not walk a batter, and he struck out 3. He also hit a double in a 6th inning at bat.

After Brault allowed a 2-out double to Cordero in the top of the 7th inning, he was removed for Edgar Santana. Santana would get Jose Pirela to ground out to shortstop to end the inning, keeping the game tied at 4.

Facing left-handed reliever Matt Strahm, Polanco doubled to start the bottom of the 7th inning. Cervelli then drove a ball with a 102 mile per hour exit velocity to deep center field that looked like it would be at least a double, but Margot ran it down to retire the Pirate catcher.

Polanco was able to get to third base on Cervelli’s fly out. After Strahm got Bell to pop out on the infield, Dickerson would reach on an error by third baseman Christian Villanueva. This error allowed Polanco to score and gave the Pirates a 5-4 lead.

Michael Feliz pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 8th inning for the Pirates. This included striking out Galvis looking to end the inning which led to Galvis arguing the call and being ejected from the game.

In the top of the 9th inning it was Felipe Vazquez time. Felipe would do what he does and blow the Padre hitters away. He struck out all three batters he faced to slam the door shut on the 5-4 Pirate victory.

Next: Austin Meadows Set To Be Called Up

The second game of this series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday. If the game is played – the weather forecast is less than promising – the Pirates plan to send Ivan Nova to the mound while the Padres will counter with Tyson Ross. Additionally, top hitting prospect Austin Meadows is slated to make his Major League debut for the Pirates on Friday night.

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