Four hours to first pitch…
Game: Pirates (45-34) vs. Cleveland Indians (38-41), 4:05 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (4-4, 4.55) vs. RHP Cody Anderson (1-0, 0.57)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Pregame notes 2:39 p.m.: Jared Hughes sprinted into the game Friday and, after he pitched 1 2/3 innings, he was a year older as the Pirates and Indians played past midnight due to a two-hour rain delay. Hughes turns 30 today, as the country also celebrates its 239th birthday. When wished happy birthday, the right-hander returned a ‘Happy 4th!’ “You’re working but you’re playing a game so it’s a lot of fun and everybody celebrates,” Hughes said. … During Friday’s rain-soaked 5-2 loss, one bright ray cut through the weather when Starling Marte fielded Yan Gomes‘ single to left and, while moving toward the line, transferred from glove to hand and flipped the ball across his body — off his right foot — to second, where Neil Walker tagged Gomes out. Clint Hurdle often talks of how he doesn’t take the game for granted and how he appreciates fun-to-watch moments. Marte’s athletic outfield assist was the latest. “He made it look so easy. Just a little rhythm, a little dance step, a little something Arthur Murray, he picked it up down the street,” Hurdle said in reference to the dance studio across the river. … The Pirates lost Clayton Richard to the Cubs in exchange for cash Friday. Richard went 4-2 with a 2.09 in nine starts for Class AAA Indianapolis and looked like the Pirates’ next big reclamation project. While the team loses a depth option for the rotation, Hurdle said he sees the transaction as a positive reflection on the organization: “We were going to do everything we could to help this man work his way back to the major leagues. We’ve done that.” Richard starts for the Cubs tonight against Miami. … Gregory Polanco was rather audibly expressive as he and a few others in the clubhouse watched the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. I asked in passing how many hot dogs he could eat: “Maybe three.” … Some clouds forecast for the afternoon, but this Independence Day should stay dry.
4:07: First pitch, Locke to Jason Kipnis, 80 degrees, sunny.
4:29: Locke allowed the leadoff man to reach base in each of the first two innings, then erased both by rolling a pair of double play balls. When he receives good fortune early on when it comes to balls in play, he can really get on a roll. Then again, if he keeps putting the leadoff man on that never bodes well either.
4:48: The second Pirate advances to third base but fails to score after Jordy Mercer led off with a single, moved up on Cody Anderson’s balk and took third on Locke’s bunt. Josh Harrison grounded to third where Mercer had no option but to run home, and was run down. No score through three.
5:04: Pirates’ leadoff man reaches for the third time in four innings, frame ends with Yan Gomes throwing Starling Marte out trying to steal second.
5:09: Locke is on a roll. He’s retired 10 straight and allowed two hits, walked none through his first five innings.
5:23: Make it 13 straight set down by Locke after he strikes out the side in the sixth. He’s needed only 65 pitches to keep Cleveland off the board so far. He’s 2/3 of the way to a Maddux (CH SHO, <100 pitches) for those counting at home.
5:28: Pirates, 1-0. Locke’s teammates give him a hand. Harrison doubles to center with one out and scores on Neil Walker’s grounder past a diving Brandon Moss through the right side. Walker now owns an eight-game hitting streak and has hit .485 during that span.
5:42: Surprise! Locke throws up, wait for it, ANOTHER 1-2-3 inning–his fifth straight. He’s retired 16 in a row, up to 79 pitches through seven.
5:55: Locke retires three more, getting a couple nice plays from Sean Rodriguez who replaced Pedro Alvarez at first base. Jung Ho Kang replaces him leading off the 8th. Locke finishes with eight shutout innings, gave up two hits and walked none. Retired the last 19 men he faced.
6:01: Mark Melancon entering for the Pirates to face Michael Bourn, pinch-hitter David Murphy and Kipnis with a 1-0 lead. Let’s not forget about Locke’s counterpart tonight, as rookie Cody Anderson held the Pirates to a run and six hits in eight innings. The offense has been slightly cooled since its big series in Detroit.
6:12: Getting interesting here in the ninth. Melancon walked Kipnis with two outs and Francisco Lindor reaches on an infield hit to beat the shift. Michael Brantley batting with two on, two out.
6:13: Melancon induces a groundout to convert his 24th consecutive save, NL-best 26th of the season. Pirates take this holiday affair, 1-0.
PNC Park on a fabulous Fourth of July in the Golden Triangle. -- NATE BARNES
July 4, 2015
Final: Pirates 1, Indians 0
242by Nate Barnes • Game previews
Four hours to first pitch…
Game: Pirates (45-34) vs. Cleveland Indians (38-41), 4:05 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (4-4, 4.55) vs. RHP Cody Anderson (1-0, 0.57)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Pregame notes 2:39 p.m.: Jared Hughes sprinted into the game Friday and, after he pitched 1 2/3 innings, he was a year older as the Pirates and Indians played past midnight due to a two-hour rain delay. Hughes turns 30 today, as the country also celebrates its 239th birthday. When wished happy birthday, the right-hander returned a ‘Happy 4th!’ “You’re working but you’re playing a game so it’s a lot of fun and everybody celebrates,” Hughes said. … During Friday’s rain-soaked 5-2 loss, one bright ray cut through the weather when Starling Marte fielded Yan Gomes‘ single to left and, while moving toward the line, transferred from glove to hand and flipped the ball across his body — off his right foot — to second, where Neil Walker tagged Gomes out. Clint Hurdle often talks of how he doesn’t take the game for granted and how he appreciates fun-to-watch moments. Marte’s athletic outfield assist was the latest. “He made it look so easy. Just a little rhythm, a little dance step, a little something Arthur Murray, he picked it up down the street,” Hurdle said in reference to the dance studio across the river. … The Pirates lost Clayton Richard to the Cubs in exchange for cash Friday. Richard went 4-2 with a 2.09 in nine starts for Class AAA Indianapolis and looked like the Pirates’ next big reclamation project. While the team loses a depth option for the rotation, Hurdle said he sees the transaction as a positive reflection on the organization: “We were going to do everything we could to help this man work his way back to the major leagues. We’ve done that.” Richard starts for the Cubs tonight against Miami. … Gregory Polanco was rather audibly expressive as he and a few others in the clubhouse watched the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. I asked in passing how many hot dogs he could eat: “Maybe three.” … Some clouds forecast for the afternoon, but this Independence Day should stay dry.
4:07: First pitch, Locke to Jason Kipnis, 80 degrees, sunny.
4:29: Locke allowed the leadoff man to reach base in each of the first two innings, then erased both by rolling a pair of double play balls. When he receives good fortune early on when it comes to balls in play, he can really get on a roll. Then again, if he keeps putting the leadoff man on that never bodes well either.
4:48: The second Pirate advances to third base but fails to score after Jordy Mercer led off with a single, moved up on Cody Anderson’s balk and took third on Locke’s bunt. Josh Harrison grounded to third where Mercer had no option but to run home, and was run down. No score through three.
5:04: Pirates’ leadoff man reaches for the third time in four innings, frame ends with Yan Gomes throwing Starling Marte out trying to steal second.
5:09: Locke is on a roll. He’s retired 10 straight and allowed two hits, walked none through his first five innings.
5:23: Make it 13 straight set down by Locke after he strikes out the side in the sixth. He’s needed only 65 pitches to keep Cleveland off the board so far. He’s 2/3 of the way to a Maddux (CH SHO, <100 pitches) for those counting at home.
5:28: Pirates, 1-0. Locke’s teammates give him a hand. Harrison doubles to center with one out and scores on Neil Walker’s grounder past a diving Brandon Moss through the right side. Walker now owns an eight-game hitting streak and has hit .485 during that span.
5:42: Surprise! Locke throws up, wait for it, ANOTHER 1-2-3 inning–his fifth straight. He’s retired 16 in a row, up to 79 pitches through seven.
5:55: Locke retires three more, getting a couple nice plays from Sean Rodriguez who replaced Pedro Alvarez at first base. Jung Ho Kang replaces him leading off the 8th. Locke finishes with eight shutout innings, gave up two hits and walked none. Retired the last 19 men he faced.
6:01: Mark Melancon entering for the Pirates to face Michael Bourn, pinch-hitter David Murphy and Kipnis with a 1-0 lead. Let’s not forget about Locke’s counterpart tonight, as rookie Cody Anderson held the Pirates to a run and six hits in eight innings. The offense has been slightly cooled since its big series in Detroit.
6:12: Getting interesting here in the ninth. Melancon walked Kipnis with two outs and Francisco Lindor reaches on an infield hit to beat the shift. Michael Brantley batting with two on, two out.
6:13: Melancon induces a groundout to convert his 24th consecutive save, NL-best 26th of the season. Pirates take this holiday affair, 1-0.