Tony Sanchez Ends Marathon Game As Pittsburgh Pirates Down Cubs In 16 Innings
Apr 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez (left) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off single to end the game against the Chicago Cubs during the sixteenth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 4-3 in sixteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The baseball season is often compared to a marathon, but the Pittsburgh Pirates weren’t expecting to run one on Day 2.
Tony Sanchezmade sure nearly six hours of work wasn’t for naught, as he delivered the Bucs’ second straight walkoff win with an RBI single in the 16th inning. The final run count was 4-3 in favor of Pittsburgh, which improved to 2-0 just after 1 a.m. at PNC Park.
There weren’t many fans remaining from a healthy Wednesday night crowd when Sanchez bounced a 2-0 pitch from Opening Day loserCarlos Villanuevainto left field. It was Sanchez’ first at-bat of the season, and it followed singles fromJordy MercerandStarling Marteto start the inning.
The game would’ve ended well shy of its Pittsburgh-record length of 5 hours, 55 minutes had Marte not come through with a game-tying, two-out single in the bottom of the 12th.Travis Ishikawa(walk) and Mercer (hit by pitch) reached against former PirateJose Verasto give Marte his opportunity in the clutch.
Veras rebounded to strike out reigning NL MVPAndrew McCutchenon a full-count, bases-loaded slider, extending the fun. Pittsburgh had a glorious chance to win in the 13th, whenPedro Alvarez,Russell MartinandNeil Walkerloaded the bases with no outs againstWesley Wright. However,Clint Barmesbounced into a third-to-home-to-first double play, thenJose Tabatagrounded out.
Rookie relieverStolmy Pimentelpitched the final four innings for the Bucs, allowing five baserunners but striking out four to escape trouble.Tony WatsonandJustin Wilsonalso tossed scoreless frames out of the Pirates bullpen.
Other members of the “Shark Tank” weren’t quite as effective, as the final two innings provided enough drama for one night on their own. With the Pirates leading 2-0 after seven,Mark Melanconappeared to escape a serious jam in the eighth whenNate Schierholtztapped into what was initially ruled a bases-loaded double play.
However, MLB’s new video review deemed that Walker’s relay throw to shortstop Mercer pulled the latter off second base. As a result, a run scored to cut the margin to 2-1.
That set upJason Grilli, who didn’t blow a save until mid-June last season, in the top of the ninth. But the fiery righty suffered his first squandered lead in his first chance of 2014 whenLuis Valbuenalined a two-out RBI single to right. The Chicago rally was extended the batter previous by the scorching-hotEmilio Bonifacio, who went 5 for 7 to improve his two-game average to .750.
Marte and Mercer had two hits each, with Mercer’s two-out RBI giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the second.Starlin Castro‘s error allowed Pittsburgh’s second run in the sixth.
Just likeFrancisco Lirianodid on Opening Day, Bucs starterCharlie Mortonpitched six scoreless innings. He allowed four hits but fanned six, a relatively-high total for Morton’s sinker-heavy repertoire.
Pittsburgh will go for the sweep on short rest, with first pitch at PNC set for 12:35 p.m.Wandy Rodriguezmakes his 2014 debut, opposing Chicago’sJason Hammel.