Brad Lincoln, Andrew McCutchen Power Pirates to 4-1 Win Over Tigers
By Matt Shetler
Just when you thought it was time to move Brad Lincoln back to the bullpen, the former first-round draft pick delivered a gem Saturday afternoon, pitching the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Lincoln (4-2) pitched 6.2 innings, allowing only a pair of hits and one rune while striking out a career-high seven batters.
He opposed Max Scherzer who has given the Pirates fits in the past, but center fielder Andrew McCutchen gave Lincoln all the offense he needed on the afternoon with a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
Each team then traded runs in the seventh as the Tigers pulled within 3-1 on a homer from Miguel Cabrera, but a Neil Walker single in the bottom of the frame put the Bucs back up by three runs.
Jason Grilli pitched the eight and Joel Hanrahan closed it out in the ninth to earn his 19th save on the season.
Offensively the Bucs pounded out eight hits on the afternoon while they allowed only four to the Tigers. Alex Presley had the only multi-hit game for the Pirates, going 2-for-4 with a double.
The Pirates have stayed the course with struggling players and it has paid off with the likes of Rod Barajas and Pedro Alvarez, who have rebounded to do good things for this team.
Lincoln is no exception to that and manager Clint Hurdle has to at least consider giving the right-hander another start.
Winning Pitcher: Brad Lincoln (4-2)
Losing Pitcher: Max Scherzer (6-5)
Save: Joel Hanrahan (19)
Home Runs: Andrew McCutchen (13), Miguel Cabrera (15)
Player of the Game: Lincoln- 6IP, 2H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7K
Up Next: Sunday, June 24 vs. Detroit Tigers at 1:35 p.m.
Probable Starters: Justin Verlander (7-4, 2.57 ERA) vs. Kevin Correia (3-6, 4.12)