Pittsburgh Pirates Takeaways and Throwaways – Buccos take the Series 3-1

Pittsburgh Pirates Take the Series Over the Braves 3-1, The Bats Are Back!

Even though it should have been easier than it turned out to be, the Pittsburgh Pirates took the fourth game and won the series against the Atlanta Braves tonight by a score of 8-2. At the 40-game mark, the Pirates are 22-18 and 6.5 games back on the Chicago Cubs.

Takeaways

• The Bats were back! Whatever kept them quiet last night – some deal with the Devil by a Braves player possibly – wore off tonight. The Buccos had 11 hits and eight runs, with Jaso, Cutch, Polanco, Marte, Harrison and Mercer all getting hits. Interestingly enough, Jung Ho Kang, whose bat’s been white hot, didn’t produce much on the night (comparatively speaking), going zero for three with one run and an RBI.
• Solid performance by Jeff Locke. After some less than amazing starts, Locke delivered for the Pirates – going seven innings, giving up only six hits and two home runs. Not ideal, but when the offense is there, it works. And it gives the bullpen much-needed rest after being pressed into service too much lately. He started out so shaky that even Greg Brown and Steve Blass were giving him a tongue-lashing from the broadcast booth. But Locke settled in and got the job done.
• Bonus: Wilfredo Boscan, who was called up today, pitched the final 2 innings for his MLB debut, giving up one hit facing seven batters – striking out two with 23 strikes in 28 pitches.

Throwaways

• The Braves came into this series with only nine home runs to their name. In four games against the Buccos, they’ve gotten six more. Enough said.
• Jung Ho Kang has a new nickname – pincushion. He’s been hit four times this season in 38 at-bats – twice in this series – once in the buttocks last night and tonight on his left leg – quite near all the new hardware he acquired thanks to Chris Coghlan last September.

Line of the Night 
Gregory Polanco was a machine tonight going two for five with two runs, two hits, two RBIs and a home run. He’s shedding the baby giraffe legs and flying around the bases like a gazelle and waiting for his pitches. His homer, it should be noted, came off an off-speed pitch he hit off the end of the bat into the notch.

W – Jeff Locke (2-3)
L – Mike Foltynewicz (1-2)

Next Up

The Pirates start a three-game series against the Rockies at 7:05 p.m. Expected pitchers are Gerrit Cole (4-3) taking on Eddie Butler (2-1) and it’s a free-shirt Friday at the Ballpark, so go out and enjoy a night out at the ballpark.