The way things are going for the Pittsburgh Pirates these days, even when they dig themselves into a hole there’s still hope.
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Juan Nicasio was the winning pitcher for the Pirates.
The Pirates made something happen against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
Jung Ho Kang hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat San Francisco 4-3 on Tuesday night to knock the Giants out of first place in the NL West. We ve got to find a way out of it soon, we know that. “That’s what we do”.
The Pirates swept the three-game series, something they needed to do in order to win the season series between the clubs.
Asked if the Giants are nearing a breaking point, first baseman Brandon Belt said “I think we’ve already reached that to a point”. “You can definitely tell guys are playing with that intensity and you can tell they’re hungry”.
Blue Jays 7, Yankees 4 • J.A. Happ won his 11th consecutive decision, to become the first 17-game victor in the majors, and Melvin Upton Jr. hit a three-run homer to boost visiting Toronto.
Cain entered the sixth inning with a scoreless card – one hit separating him from perfection – and left it with six runs on three walks and just three hits.
But the fifth inning tripped him up, bad.
Martinez (11-7) pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing a run while striking out seven.
Matt Cain had a one-hitter through four innings.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of his decision to pinch-hit Joyce wasn’t a reflection on Nova’s performance. “You take that shot with the bases loaded”.
The Pirates are now three games behind the Giants in the first wild-card position.
Nova allowed four runs on six hits in four innings. “It doesn”t help,” Hurdle said. “In the American League he’s probably still pitching”.
Cain threw 37 of his 89 pitches in the fifth inning.
The Giants, who fell to 9-21 since the All-Star break, were swept for the fifth time this season.
“It’s hard to put into words how tough each (loss) is”, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said. Now more than ever, the Giants need their superstar catcher to stay in good health and help lead them into the postseason. “We’re creating some good chances and opportunities”. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Giants totaled five such losses over the past two seasons. He loaded the bases with no outs, then got Buster Posey to ground into a run-scoring double play. He slowly jogged from first base to second after hitting an RBI double into the gap in right-center Triples Alley as it’s known at AT&T Park.
“Look for something to hit”, McCutchen said of his approach to the key at-bat.
“I was trying to throw a fastball and left it right down the middle”, Cain said. C Chris Stewart, out since July 2 with knee discomfort, had his third scheduled rehab game with Double-A Altoona rained out on Tuesday.
The Giants won’t need a fifth starter until September 2, according to manager Bruce Bochy, and at that point Cain will have completed his 15-day D.L. stint.
Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole will pitch the series opener against the Marlins on Friday. The Giants’ struggles this home stand are due in part to epic pitching collapses and this game was no different.
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Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner will pitch the series opener with the Mets on Thursday.
