Russell Martin, Clint Hurdle ejected as Pirates lose to Braves
By Larry Snyder
The Pittsburgh Pirates scored first and last Monday night in Atlanta, but it was the Braves who won 7-2 to take Game 1 of a three-game series at Turner Field.
The Bucs loss dropped them to 35-23, 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Cardinals in the National League Central standings. St. Louis defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-1 on Monday night.
Atlanta Braves starter Kris Medlen worked seven strong innings to improve his record to 2-6. The righthander allowed an unearned run and scattered seven hits while reducing his ERA to 3.14.
June 3, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) reacts to allowing two home runs in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Pirates righthander A.J. Burnett gave up three two-run home runs to the Braves and a season-high six runs in five innings. Burnett also allowed a total of eight hits to go along with three walks as his record dropped to 3-6 on the season.
The last time Burnett allowed three home runs was in a 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay on May 16, 2011.
Atlanta catcher Brian McCann’s two-run home run gave the Braves a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Braves’ assault on the scoreboard continued when right fielder Jason Heyward’s two-run blast increased their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Finally, first baseman Freddie Freeman launched a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw later in the fifth to extend Atlanta’s lead to 6-1.
The Braves added one more run in the bottom of the seventh when third baseman Chris Johnson brought home Justin Upton on a sacrifice fly to left field. Also in the seventh, Brian McCann got a standing ovation from the crowd after getting his 1,000th career hit.
It was not a good night for Pittsburgh catcher Russell Martin and manager Clint Hurdle as both were ejected for arguing balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Dan Iassogna in the bottom of the fourth inning. Martin apparently had complained after Iassogna called two balls on pitches from Burnett to the Braves’ Medlen. It was Hurdle’s third ejection this season and the sixth of Martin’s career.
Michael McKenry replaced Martin behind the plate for the Bucs.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Neil Walker scored from second base on a ground-rule double by Gaby Sanchez with two outs. In the ninth, with two out, Clint Barmes hit a double to right field to score Sanchez, who led off with a single.
Game 2 of the three-game series is set for 7:10 p.m. Tuesday. The Braves (35-22) will send lefthander Mike Minor (7-2, 2.48 ERA) to the mound, while Pittsburgh will counter with lefthander Jeff Locke (5-1, 2.25). The contest will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.
From The Clipboard: Clint Hurdle’s crew have posted 16 come-from-behind victories so far this season. They have six wins in their final at-bat…The Bucs have lost the first game of a series 12 times, only to come back to win six and tie two of those series…Garrett Jones has hit four of his six home runs on the road, with the last coming on May 10 at Citi Field in New York…Jason Grilli was named Major League Baseball’s Delivery Man of the Month for May, the second consecutive month that he has been named the top reliever.