The Rocky Mountain weather that the Rockies brought into Pittsburgh wasn’t enough to stop the Pirates bats from heating up finally. In what was an odd game, the Pirates were able to make a late run with Clint Barmes, yes, that Clint Barmes, pacing the offense to a 5-4 win.
Barmes, who has struggled in his first season with the Pirates, went 3-4 against his old team with two doubles against 49-year-old starter Jamie Moyer and a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning off Matt Belisle.
“He went out and just played tonight,” Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said. “The barrel showed up for him and he just drove the ball. He had three extra-base hits and absolutely slaughtered the home run. He ought to be feeling much better as well.”
Barmes, who is very aware of his struggles this season, felt good to break out of his slump.
“I can say I’ve been definitely waiting to feel a little more comfortable at the plate,” Barmes said. “It was one of those nights where slowing everything down helped a lot, and it was nice to put a couple barrels on the ball consistently.”
After giving up a two-run home run in the first inning, Pirates starter Kevin Correia was able to get into a groove that included setting down 10 Rockies batters in a row at one point. Correia was pulled in the bottom of the sixth inning when he was lifted for pinch-hitter Josh Harrison with the bases-loaded. Harrison would go on to ground out to third.
Correia, who is notoriously bad at home, felt like he put together a good performance in his 2012 home debut.
“That’s a really good team and to go out and get a quality start like that, I’m always going to feel good about that,” Correia said. “I made one bad pitch to a good hitter and he hit a home run and that was it. That kind of woke me up a bit I think.”
The Pirates were still trailing by two runs after they pulled Correia, but after a leadoff double by Alex Presley and a single by Jose Tabata, Andrew McCutchen pulled the Pirates ahead with double off the base of the wall in centerfield.
The Pirates turned to Jason Grilli who struck out two with a double in between before turning to Tony Watson to face the left-handed Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who had a .130 average against lefties entering the game, took Watson deep for second home run of the game to give the Rockies the 4-3 lead.
Not to be outdone, the Pirates would answer with Barmes’ home run and an RBI single by Casey McGehee that would prove to be the game winning run. Joel Hanrahan would come on in the ninth to preserve the win and earn his third save of the season.
The Pirates will be back at it early as they will take part in a double-header against the Rockies tomorrow. The first game is scheduled to start at 12:35 p.m. ET with the second game slated to start 30 minutes after the finish of the first game.
Taking the hill in game one for the Pirates (7-9) will be James McDonald (0-1, 3.45 ERA) against Juan Nicasio (1-0, 6.19 ERA) for the Rockies (8-8). In game two, Charlie Morton (0-1, 3.60 ERA) will oppose Jhoulys Chacin (0-1, 4.80 ERA).
Photo credits: Getty Images
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