Two long balls help Pirates defeat fish 5-1

The Pirates defeated the Fish 5-1 on Friday night. And with just two games remaining on the season, the Bucs aren’t finishing the season without a fight.

The Pirates finished the month of September 12-14 with a team batting average of .255. They scored a season-high 123 runs, as well as season-high doubles (53) and triples (7). The pitching staff’s ERA was the second lowest of the season (4.38) and picked up a season-high 12 wins striking out 180 batters.

Record aside; we are seeing a lot of good things coming from the team.

On Friday night, three of the five runs scored came from the long ball. Pedro Alvarez hit a line drive monster in the second inning tying the game at one and extending his hitting streak to 11-games. 

“He hit that ball hard,” Russell said. “He really did.”

Alvarez now has 64 RBI since he was called up on June 16th –the most of any Major League Rookie.

Chris Snyder hit a two-run homer in the sixth, giving the Pirates a 3-1 lead –breaking his 0-for-18 streak.

Daniel McCutchen –who started in place of Paul Maholm–, pitched four innings allowing one run on five hits, walked one and struck out two.

“September wasn’t all that great, so to end on a positive note is good,” McCutchen said. “I know they’re a very aggressive ballclub and needed to stay out of the middle of the plate. For the most part, I did that. When I needed the big out, I got it.”

Chan Ho Park pitched three innings allowing neither runs nor hits and struck out six. He picked up the win –his 124th– passing Nomo for most wins by an Asian born pitcher.

The Pirates pick up their 17 win on the road this season. One more victory keeps them from tying the Mets for the worst record by a club playing 81 road games.

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