After the one-hitter against Justin Verlander last month, the Pirates and their fans thought they saw the last of him for the year. Thanks to a blister on Drew Smyly’s hand, the Tigers shuffled their rotation around and low-and-behold, Verlander took the hill Sunday for the Tigers. Unlike last time, he wasn’t as dominate, but still ultimately earned the victory in the 3-2 win for Detroit.
Opposing Verlander, was Kevin Correia for the Pirates. Correia, who has been subject to trade rumors and/or being knocked out of the starting rotation, had his work cut out for him against the reigning Cy Young winner. After leadoff hitter Austin Jackson reached on the first pitch of the game, Quinton Berry took Correia deep for his first career home run to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
“Four pitches in I was down 2-0,” Correia said. “It was kind of a situation where the first guy of the game got a hit and I fell behind 2-0 to the next guy. Not a guy I thought would be swinging in that situation. I was just trying to throw a strike and all of the sudden, you’re down 2-0.”
Correia settled in nicely however, as he wouldn’t give up another run in his six innings on the mound.
“I think I pitched pretty good after that,” Correia said. “I don’t necessarily want to say I was pitching bad before that because it was so quick, but it’s tough to spot a guy like Verlander two runs. I knew that was all I could give up if I was going to keep us in the game.”
As for the Pirates’ offense against Verlander, Alex Presley ended any no-hit discussion with a bunt single to start off the game. Through 6.1 IP, the Pirates would only collect one other hit, an infield single by Michael McKenry. Frustration started to set in for the Pirates, Casey McGehee began to argue with home plate umpire Marty Foster following a strike three call on a check swing. Pirates’ Manager Clint Hurdle came out to defend his player before getting shown the gate for the second time this season.
“I just wanted them to get a second opinion, but he didn’t feel he needed it,” McGehee said. “That’s probably the one call that irritates me the most. They get it right about 90 percent of the time. It just bothers me when you have a guy standing there without anything else to really look at and why they are so hesitant to ask the guy. It is what it is. He probably did get the call right, but I just wanted him to ask.”
McGehee said while he and his teammates know that Hurdle have their back, it’s always nice to have that confirmation.
“It means a lot,” McGehee said. “We know that he has our back, but when you see stuff like that, it just kind of reconfirms that he’s right there with you. He takes it just as personal as we do when things don’t go our way. It means a lot when you see a manager go out there and stand up for you.”
With their never say die attitude, Garrett Jones hit a line drive home run to right center following a Pedro Alvarez single to put the Pirates on the board against Verlander.
“I got excited,” Hurdle said about watching Jones’s home run inside the clubhouse. “It was a nice swing. He left a change up up, Garrett stayed on it and got through it.”
Unfortunately for the Pirates, Chris Resop surrendered an RBI single to Delmon Young in the eighth inning, his second inning of relief to put the Tigers up for good.
“We pitched extremely well today,” Hurdle said. “It was a well played weekend. That’s a good team over there. I know they haven’t found their rhythm yet, but that’s a good team. Our next challenge will now be to get to Philly in one piece and take on another good team that’s trying to find their way as well.”
As Hurdle said, the Pirates will travel to Philadelphia for a four-game set starting tomorrow as Jeff Karstens (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates in his return from the disabled list. With his return, the rest of the rotation will get pushed back.
“Karstens will start tomorrow night in Philadelphia,” Hurdle said. “Everybody else will be pushed back a day. Brad Lincoln will be moved to the bullpen. We will have to make a roster spot move tomorrow to make room for Jeff.”
The Pirates, who still trail the Reds by a game following their 4-3 loss to Minnesota, will face Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.04 ERA) who will look to take game on against their cross-state rivals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
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