Jeff Locke was dominant, yet again, as he went seven scoreless while only allowing three base runners in a Pirates 2 – 0, series opening victory over the Dodgers. “He came to pitch” said manager, Clint Hurdle. “The glove side command opened everything else up. He was very efficient, looked effortless. He just made pitches the entire seven innings.”
Locke’s only two hits given up came in the first and second innings as Yaisel Puig led-off the game with a bunt single. He would be erased, though, when Nick Punto grounded into a double-play. The other hit came from Mark Ellis with one out in the second. He would not reach second, though, as the next two batters would fly out and strikeout to end the inning. The only other base runner would be a Punto walk in the fourth.
No player reached second base with Locke in the game. It was a completely different Locke compared to the start he had in Chicago where he allowed seven walks. “I got in the bullpen this week and worked on my form and my direction. You know, the things, that probably for the past month we kinda got away from. I had to get back to the drawing board.”
The Pirates didn’t do much either, but they did enough to get by as they scored twice in the third. Alex Presley and Russell Martin led-off the inning with singles and Andrew McCutchen would knock them in with a double down the right field line. They would load the bases with two out, but Clint Barmes would fly out to left to end the threat.
The Dodgers would get one final shot at tying the game up in the eighth against Mark Melancon. Andre Ethier would single with one out and Jerry Hairston Jr. would double him to third with two outs setting up second and third for pinch-hitter, Juan Uribe. Melancon would get Uribe to chase a 2 – 2 knuckle-curve in dirt to get out of the inning.
The Bucs would add on some insurance in the bottom of the eighth when Cutch and Gaby Sanchez both singled to lead-off the inning to set up first and third for Neil Walker with no out. Walker would pop the ball into foul territory in short right field. It would be deep enough, however, as Cutch would speed home to end the scoring. The play was actually a set play where the runner on first tags and heads to second hoping the throw would go to second allowing the runner on third to score.
Jason Grilli would then come in and allow the first two batters to reach before retiring the next three for his 24th save of the season. Final Score: Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.
These two will be at it tomorrow afternoon at 4:05 for game 2 of the 3-game set.
Starters Lines:
Locke (W, 6 – 1): 7 IN, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K’s. 75 Pitches (48 Strikes)
Fife (L, 1 – 2): 5 IN, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 IBB, 4 K’s. 93 Pitches (57 Strikes)
Tomorrow’s Starters:
(RHP) Brandon Cumpton (PIT) Major League Debut
(LHP) Clayton Kershaw (LAD) 5 – 4, 1.88 ERA
Follow Travis for Pirates news and in-game updates on Twitter @TBerardi_OVA
(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
