Pittsburgh Pirates take series lead over Philadelphia Phillies
Sep 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts as he crosses home plater after hitting an inside the park home run during the fifth inning a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night and took a 2-1 series lead after scoring four unanswered runs in a 6-3 game.
Jerome Williams received his first loss as a member of the Phillies as he went five innings and gave up four earned runs on seven hits. Moving to 3-1 with Philadelphia, Williams walked just one and struck out eight.
The Pirates’ starter, Vance Worley also lasted just five innings. Worley allowed all three Phillies’ runs, including a two-RBI single to Williams. He picked up his seventh win of the season against his former team.
Cody Asche had two of Philadelphia’s four hits in the game and scored on a Wil Nieves single in the second inning.
Russell Martin also had a two-hit game, but his was far more productive. Pittsburgh’s catcher not only gave his team the lead in the first with two RBIs, but he also hit a solo home run in the fifth.
Martin’s homer was not the only one in the fifth inning, but it was the only one to clear the fence. Andrew McCutchen hit an in-the-park home run just two batters later.
Pittsburgh poured on 13 hits in the game and scored twice in the six to settle the final score of 6-3. Both of those runs came off Luis Garcia, who now has a 12.27 ERA in 7.1 innings with the Phillies.
Three more relievers were used by the Phillies, including typical starter Sean O’Sullivan. He was the only one to not allow a hit.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez allowed just one hit in his inning of work and struck out two, but needed 22 pitches to complete the inning.
Four Pirates’ relievers combined for four no-hit innings and six strikeouts and Mark Melancon picked up his 28th save of the season and second in the series.
Phillies’ left fielder Domonic Brown injured himself going for a ball and left the game in the sixth with a left shoulder bruise.