The Pittsburgh Pirates journeyed to South Florida to begin a three-game series with the Miami Marlins. These two teams met back in June at PNC Park, where Pittsburgh took three out of four games. They were looking to have a similar experience on the road. It started off on the right foot, as the Pirates would win a pitchers’ duel over Miami 2-1.
Wil Crowe pitched five innings and allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk tonight, while collecting his fourth win of the season. That lone run came in the second on an Eddy Alwarez RBI single to right that scored Jesus Sanchez. That run would tie the game at one, as Pittsburgh opened the game with a run in the first when Jazz Chisholm Jr. committed a fielding error which allowed Bryan Reynolds to score.
The Marlins had pitcher Elieser Hernandez start the game. Hernandez gave up two runs, neither earned, over 5.2 innings of work. During that time, he would walk five and strike out three. The second run that the Pirates scored with him on the mound came during the sixth inning. Cole Tucker would hit a fly ball to center that would allow Colin Moran to score.
That would prove to be the winning run, as both bullpens worked scoreless innings throughout the night. Anthony Banda worked 1.1 innings and allowed one hit with two strikeouts. He would be replaced by Nick Mears in the seventh, who collected the final two outs of the inning, one via a strikeout. Chad Kuhl worked the eighth, with one strikeout, before Chris Stratton came on in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season. Stratton would give up one hit, walk one, and strikeout three during that time.
Miami used three pitchers out of the pen over the final 3.1 innings and they would combine to allow two hits with three strikeouts and one walk. There was not much offense to speak of on the night. The Pirates collected six hits, with the Marlins getting five. Anthony Alford was the only player on either team to collect multiple hits with two.
Always good to see Pittsburgh open a series with a win, especially when it comes from a strong pitching performance. They will look to carry that pitching momentum into tomorrow night when Bryse Wilson takes the bump. Hopefully the Pirates offense can come to life against Edward Cabrera. First pitch is set for 6:10pm.
Record vs. Marlins: 4-1
Record vs. N.L. East: 15-13
Record on the Road: 21-51
Overall Record: 55-92
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
