The Colorado Rockies avoided a sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-0 victory Sunday at PNC Park. Pirate starter Charlie Morton allowed all five runs on six hits over six innings. The Bucs managed just four hits in the game, including two singles by Jordy Mercer.
The Pirates are off today, then begin a nine-game road trip that features visits to divison-rivals Milwaukee, St. Louis and Cincinnati. The Bucs meet the Brewers beginning Tuesday.
With the Pirates’ scheduled off-day today, manager Clint Hurdle has adjusted his pitching plans for the next two series against National League Central foes Milwaukee and St. Louis. The moves assure that ace right-hander Gerrit Cole will get a start against the division-leading Cardinals.
Cole will start the series opener in Milwaukee on Tuesday night, followed by lefty Jeff Locke on Wednesday and lefty Francisco Liriano on Thursday.
A.J. Burnett tossed a simulated five inning game Sunday morning and reported no issues with his sore arm. Burnett threw 71 pitches and is eyeing a possible return during the September 15th through 17th series with the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
Seven times in his final 18 starts of 2014, Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but it wasn’t until Sunday night against the Dodgers that the Cubs right-hander finished the job. Arrieta threw his first career no-hitter to win his Major League-leading 17th game. Cubs defeated the Dodgers 2-0. It was the second time in 10 days the Dodgers were no-hit, a major league record. The post Pirates fail to sweep Rockies appeared first on Inside Butler County – Butler, PA.
