Pittsburgh Pirates Lose To Diamondbacks; Andrew McCutchen Leaves Game In Eighth
Aug 3, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco (25) slides in safely to second base in front of Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill (2) in the eighth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates could not summon the power of the Lumber Company again in the late innings on Sunday as it was the Diamondbacks who came back in the tenth to down the Bucs 3-2.
However, it was the eighth inning that had Pirates fans deeply concerned.Andrew McCutcheninjured himself as he was driving inJosh Harrisonwith the tying run on a sacrifice fly to left field. He needed to be helped off the field and departed the game with what was disclosed as left side discomfort.
On Saturday, McCutchen had been struck in the lower back with a pitch by D-backs relieverRandall Delgadoin the top of the ninth. He will undergo further evaluation on Monday, an off-day for the squad.
The contest came to a close in the bottom of the 10th asMark Melancon, the fourth reliever to come in for Bucs starterFrancisco Liriano, surrendered a one-out double toTuffy Gosewisch, who advanced to third on the fourth-ball wild pitch toNick Ahmed.
Andy Martehit a sharp grounder to shortstopJordy Mercer, who relayed the ball perfectly to new second basemanJayson Nixto trigger a double play. Nix’s throw to first hit Ahmed’s upraised left arm as he was sliding into second, and that in turn gave Gosewisch the opportunity to score from third.
So, the contest came to a conclusion, not with a bang, but on a sigh of “really?” The umpires allowed the play to stand, the run went up on the scoreboard and a 5-5 road trip was in the log book for the Pirates.
Liriano had a solid outing as he gave up just two earned runs on four hits while walking one and striking six on 79 pitches over six innings.
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Arizona took the lead in the bottom of third whenEnder Inciartegrounded out to push Gosewisch across the plate whileJordan Pachecosingled to center to bring in Ahmed and make the score 2-1.
D-backs starterTrevor Cahillgave up one run in the first but then settled down to strike out seven on 105 pitches over seven innings.
Brad Zieglercame in for Cahill in the eighth and it looked like Pittsburgh was ready to strike back. Harrison led off the frame with a single and made it to third onGregory Polanco‘s double down the left-field line.
After McCutchen’s fateful sacrifice fly knotted the game at two, Planco was nailed at the plate as he tried to score from second onMichael Martinez‘s grounder to short. The home-plate collision was reviewed and the call on the field by the umpire was upheld.
The loss of McCutchen was quickly felt when he was due up in the batting order with a man on third with less than two outs in the 10th. It was pinch-hitterGaby Sanchezwho was struck out by right-handerEvan Marshall.
Pittsburgh opens a three-game homestand at PNC Park on Tuesday when they host the Marlins. The first pitch is set to go at 7:05 p.m. Miami will send leftyBrad Hand(2-3, 4.15 ERA) to the hill while the Bucs will go withCharlie Morton(5-10, 3.54 ERA)
The 30-year-old right-hander will be making his 23rd start of the season on Tuesday night. He has given up just three home runs in his last seven starts overall. The game will be broadcast by Root Sports Pittsburgh.