Pittsburgh Pirates Takeaways & Throwaways – Home Runs Galore at PNC

After beginning the weekend interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with a 9-2 loss, the Pittsburgh Pirates rebounded with a 8-7 win this afternoon. Here are the takeaways and throwaways from a game in which the Pirates picked up their 30th win of the season.

Takeaways

• Despite allowing two home runs in the contest to Kole Calhoun and Shane Robinson, Jeff Locke was once again effective for the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out two in seven innings of work. Locke, who is 4-0 in his last four starts, has not allowed a walk in his last two outings. He was also effective for his second consecutive start, as he followed up his 105 pitch, complete game shutout performance against Miami with an outing this afternoon in which he only threw 82 pitches in seven innings.
• The Pirates offense, which has been one of the best all season long, came to play this afternoon and used the long ball to their advantage throughout the day. Jung Ho Kang, Gregory Polanco and Matt Joyce all homered in the victory
• The Pirates were lead offensively by two guys who didn’t hit the long ball in this afternoon’s contest, but had multiple hits in the win. Josh Harrison went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Starling Marte went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and finished just a home run shy of the cycle.
• Mark Melancon came in to the ballgame in the ninth inning in a one run game and shut down the Angels, throwing six pitches to get three outs en route to his 17th save of the season. Melancon, who lead the majors in saves last season, continues to provide confidence that the Pirates will finish off and win a ballgame, simply by coming in for the save chance.

#Pirates have won 68 consecutive times when Mark Melancon has come on for the save chance

— Joe Block (@joe_block) June 4, 2016

Throwaways

• Despite putting up eight runs, the Pirates struggled to capitalize on a few key offensive opportunities, leaving 10 runners on base and going 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
• Something you don’t see very often is an ineffective Tony Watson. That is what we saw this afternoon as Watson came in to work the eighth inning in relief of Locke. In only a third of an inning, Watson gave up four earned runs on three hits and one walk, moving his season ERA to 3.91. With his performance today, Watson has now allowed runs in back to back outings for the first time since July of 2014

W – Jeff Locke (5-3)

L – Fernando Salas (2-2)

Line of the Night

Jeff Locke put together yet another effective outing, giving up three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out two in his fourth consecutive outing of six or more innings.

Up Next

The Pirates will look to take the series in the rubber match of the three game set tomorrow afternoon at 1:35 p.m. The Pirates send Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.72) to the mound while the Angels will go with Hector Santiago (3-3, 4.96).

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