In his first MLB Start, Gerrit Cole impressed both defensively and offensively, as he lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 win over the San Fransisco Giants.
Cole went six and a third innings and notched two strikeouts and allowed two runs on seven hits. The first Major League batter he faced, Gregor Blanco, didn’t offer much of a challenge, as Cole struck him out with a 99 mph fastball, which was met with a standing ovation from the 30,000 plus in attendance at PNC Park.
He also showed some skill on offense as well. In his first official at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, with the bases loaded, Cole worked the count full before taking a pitch to right-center field for a two-run single, giving the Pirates an early lead.
More runs got added with a solo home run from Starling Marte in the bottom of the sixth, and Pedro Alvarez hitting a two-run bomb to right-center field as part of a three RBI night. Russell Martin and Neil Walker also drove in a run a piece.
The low light of this game were repeated beanballs thrown, which included Cole hitting Blanco in the second, and Alvarez was hit by San Fransisco’s Tim Lincecum. In the top of the seventh, Giants Second Baseman Marco Scutaro got hit by Tony Watson. At that point, both benches were warned.
In the bottom of the eighth, George Kontos hit Andrew McCutchen and was immediately thrown out of the game by home plate umpire Wally Bell, as was Giant’s manager Bruce Bochy.
Both teams will play tomorrow night at 7:05 at PNC Park. The game will be on Root Sports Pittsburgh, Comcast Sports Network in San Fransisco, and on the MLB Network.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
