CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
Charlie Morton is considered to be one of the most talented pitchers in the Pirates organization right now. However, in his three starts this season he is averaging 3.1 innings, 6.5 earned runs, and 7.7 hits per game. While there is no doubt about how talented he could be, Morton has looked like an inexperienced rookie so far. And that is something that the Pirates don’t need on a rotation that desperately needs a legitimate fourth starter.
And last night was one of his worst starts of his major league career pitching only one complete inning, giving up six hits and being charged with six earned runs in the 8-1 loss. The only start that even compares to this was the one he had in August of last year when he gave up ten runs to Chicago in just one inning pitched.
Morton allowed four hits and a walk as the Brewers took the early 3-0 lead in the first. But even in the second he could not gain control of the game, giving up an additional three hits, two walks, and three runs in the inning without recording a single out. But the worst moment was when he walked Ryan Braun with the bases loaded to score a run, putting an exclamation point on his day.
Morton would be pulled after that in favor of Brian Burres. Burres helped to easy the stress placed on the bullpen by pitched four very good innings after inheriting the no-out mess in the second. He would give up just one run in second and one run in the following three innings.
The offense did not do well either, perhaps resigned to their loss early. They did little damage as Brewers starter Dave Bush pitched seven scoreless innings.
The Pirates only run came in the eighth inning off a Lasting Milledge double that scored Andrew McCutchen.
The Pirates will look to regroup Wednesday evening as they continue the series at home.
