Zachary covers the Pirates for Pittsburgh Sporting News. Lot of low-scoring games, even though this is a day game.
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“There was obviously a lot of traffic today but we certainly limited damage”, Roberts said. “You know, it was good to go out there in the first inning today and put pressure on them right away”. He walked five and hit one of the 13 batters he faced, throwing 29 of 51 pitches out of the strike zone.
Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson, who underwent back surgery in March, makes his season debut for the Dodgers on Sunday.
McCarthy issued five of those walks in the first two innings, matching his career-high for the third consecutive start. No disabled list stint was announced Saturday, but Brett Anderson is expected to take McCarthy’s place on the active roster before Sunday’s game.
“Aside from blowing the back out again or hurting my elbow it’s probably about the worst way a first start back can go”, he said.
The Dodgers were counting on Anderson, who was pitching for the first time since October after spending the past four months rehabbing. Kuhl set down his last seven batters in order, using his slider to whiff his last two batters, Yasmani Grandal and Pederson.
Juan Nicasio was called upon to pitch the ninth inning for Pittsburgh but mixed two strikeouts with singles to Kendrick and Chris Taylor.
Josh Harrison and Frazier each had four hits, Rodriguez had four RBIs and the Pirates beat the Dodgers for the fifth time in seven games this year.
“They were out there; we couldn’t get them in”, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. The 23-year-old right-hander worked six innings in his last start, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks in a 6-4 decision over the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh last Tuesday.
“I feel snakebit”, Anderson said.
“We have the capability offensively to put up a crooked number in the first and keep adding on from there. As you can tell, it’s a very talented team”, he said. The Pirates won each of the first seven starts that Jim Nelson made in 1970 between June 15 and July 17. “I think Brandon wants to compete and wants to be out there and make his starts”. He’s done a good job of going out there.
After the Pirates successfully challenged a Josh Harrison lead-off single, Starling Marte’s single set up the rest of the inning.
Harrison has a.356 average (21 for 59) in 13 games as the leadoff hitter.
Mets 3, Padres 2 • Wilmer Flores drove in the winning run when rookie second baseman Ryan Schimpf made a wild throw to home plate in the 11th, and host NY brushed off two stunning homers to stop a four-game slide.
Marte left Saturday’s game against the Dodgers with upper back discomfort, but it appears he is fine. The speedy outfielder is in left field and hitting second against Brett Anderson on Sunday. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner missed his second consecutive game with a bruised hand, but Roberts does not feel he is a candidate for the disabled list.
“It’s a combo. It’s both”, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
The Pirates’ win in the series finale came on the heels of a disastrous game Saturday in which the offense had 10 hits and 11 walks but scored just four runs, tying a club record with 18 runners left on base.
Norris and Liberatore are expected to join the Dodgers during their trip to Philadelphia and Cincinnati and be activated from the DL. The Pirates have won all five games started by Kuhl, who was Pittsburgh’s ninth-round pick in the 2013 draft.Anderson made 31 starts with the Dodgers a year ago and threw well in three minor-league rehab outings.
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Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir are scheduled to start the first two games in Philadelphia, but Roberts would not name a starter for the third game against the Phillies on Thursday.
