<figure class="poster first-image" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; font-family: mlb_primary; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; max-height: 600px; position: relative; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 170px 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 926px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">http://ui.bamstatic.com/mlbv2/sections/news2/images/caption-bg.png") 0px 0px repeat;">g the year and Juan Nicasio's outing in the Pirates' win over the Cardinals</figcaption></figure><section class="content cf article-bottom" style="margin: 22px auto 0px; padding: 0px 25px 33px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 660px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PITTSBURGH -- As first impressions of a season go, the Pittsburgh Pirates would seem to have closed the narrow space between themselves and the St. Louis Cardinals.
In fact, based on what occurred in the season-opening, three-game series between the clubs at PNC Park, the Bucs may have taken the lead in this intense but respectful rivalry.
The Pirates swept the series with a 5-1 victory Wednesday night. Their play here was never less than solid and at times was superb.
The results were so positive, against the team that has been their primary roadblock, that Pirates manager Clint Hurdle took time to note that there should be no surprise involved, that his players were no strangers to success.
"I don't think we'll ever surprise ourselves when we play well," Hurdle said. "We're past that point. We expect to play well.
"We met the challenge the first series of the season, we'll get on a plane [Thursday] and go to Cincinnati and meet the next challenge."
A three-game series is the picture of a small sample size. For the larger picture, check out the regular-season results since the beginning of the 2013 season. The Pirates are 30-30 against the Redbirds in that period.
That is competitive balance, between teams that have competed at the highest level. But the Pirates could be forgiven if they still felt their situation relative to the Cardinals was something of an uphill climb.
Over the past three seasons, the Pirates had the second-best record in baseball with 280 victories. The Cardinals had the best record with 287.
In 2015, the Pirates had the second-best record in the Majors with 98 victories. The Cardinals had the best record with 100.
The Pirates have finished in second place in the National League Central in each of the past three seasons. The Cardinals have won the division each of those years.
The Pirates won a Wild Card Game in 2013, only to be defeated by the Cardinals in a very competitive Division Series. The next two years, the Pirates were defeated in the Wild Card Game. The Redbirds, meanwhile, advanced to one World Series, one NL Championship Series and one NL Division Series.
But if the Cardinals are clearly among baseball's elite teams, that 30-30 record tells you that the Bucs are in the same neighborhood.
The difference between these two teams is that the Pirates have had more than enough trouble with other opponents in the NL Central. The Bucs, for instance, are 28-29 since 2013 against the Brewers. The Cardinals, over the same period, are 39-18 against the Milwaukee club.
But despite second place looking like home, the overall direction of the Pittsburgh team is still upward.
The Pirates have a talented farm system, and they supplement it with astute acquisitions. Hurdle has been both relentless and successful in his efforts to maximize the talents on his roster. And it has become clear that pitching coach Ray Searage is one of the very best in the game, even if he persistently tries to avoid taking credit.
All of these aspects were at work Wednesday night in the case of Pittsburgh's starting pitcher, Juan Nicasio. He spent most of his Major League career with the Rockies, in the big leagues' most difficult spot for pitchers. He signed as a free agent with the Pirates in a move that drew minimal attention.
Wednesday night, though, he was a big, hard-throwing pitcher with very good stuff, who stifled the Cardinals over six innings, giving up one run on just two hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
"I try to be happy and make a good pitch," Nicasio said. He succeeded so well in this effort that he made a whole clubhouse happy.
You could minimize the importance of this series, or rationalize the results. The Cards had four players go on the disabled list in the past week, and that didn't include one of their most essential players, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who was already injured.
"Sometimes it's not who you play but when you play them," Hurdle generously noted.
But at the end of this opening series, the Pirates had achieved the maximum lead that three games would allow. Of course, it won't always go this way when these clubs meet. Still, by now the available evidence says the competition between these teams, so close in recent seasons, may be getting even closer.
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In fact, based on what occurred in the season-opening, three-game series between the clubs at PNC Park, the Bucs may have taken the lead in this intense but respectful rivalry.
The Pirates swept the series with a 5-1 victory Wednesday night. Their play here was never less than solid and at times was superb.
The results were so positive, against the team that has been their primary roadblock, that Pirates manager Clint Hurdle took time to note that there should be no surprise involved, that his players were no strangers to success.
"I don't think we'll ever surprise ourselves when we play well," Hurdle said. "We're past that point. We expect to play well.
"We met the challenge the first series of the season, we'll get on a plane [Thursday] and go to Cincinnati and meet the next challenge."
A three-game series is the picture of a small sample size. For the larger picture, check out the regular-season results since the beginning of the 2013 season. The Pirates are 30-30 against the Redbirds in that period.
That is competitive balance, between teams that have competed at the highest level. But the Pirates could be forgiven if they still felt their situation relative to the Cardinals was something of an uphill climb.
Over the past three seasons, the Pirates had the second-best record in baseball with 280 victories. The Cardinals had the best record with 287.
In 2015, the Pirates had the second-best record in the Majors with 98 victories. The Cardinals had the best record with 100.
The Pirates have finished in second place in the National League Central in each of the past three seasons. The Cardinals have won the division each of those years.
The Pirates won a Wild Card Game in 2013, only to be defeated by the Cardinals in a very competitive Division Series. The next two years, the Pirates were defeated in the Wild Card Game. The Redbirds, meanwhile, advanced to one World Series, one NL Championship Series and one NL Division Series.
But if the Cardinals are clearly among baseball's elite teams, that 30-30 record tells you that the Bucs are in the same neighborhood.
The difference between these two teams is that the Pirates have had more than enough trouble with other opponents in the NL Central. The Bucs, for instance, are 28-29 since 2013 against the Brewers. The Cardinals, over the same period, are 39-18 against the Milwaukee club.
But despite second place looking like home, the overall direction of the Pittsburgh team is still upward.
The Pirates have a talented farm system, and they supplement it with astute acquisitions. Hurdle has been both relentless and successful in his efforts to maximize the talents on his roster. And it has become clear that pitching coach Ray Searage is one of the very best in the game, even if he persistently tries to avoid taking credit.
All of these aspects were at work Wednesday night in the case of Pittsburgh's starting pitcher, Juan Nicasio. He spent most of his Major League career with the Rockies, in the big leagues' most difficult spot for pitchers. He signed as a free agent with the Pirates in a move that drew minimal attention.
Wednesday night, though, he was a big, hard-throwing pitcher with very good stuff, who stifled the Cardinals over six innings, giving up one run on just two hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
"I try to be happy and make a good pitch," Nicasio said. He succeeded so well in this effort that he made a whole clubhouse happy.
You could minimize the importance of this series, or rationalize the results. The Cards had four players go on the disabled list in the past week, and that didn't include one of their most essential players, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who was already injured.
"Sometimes it's not who you play but when you play them," Hurdle generously noted.
But at the end of this opening series, the Pirates had achieved the maximum lead that three games would allow. Of course, it won't always go this way when these clubs meet. Still, by now the available evidence says the competition between these teams, so close in recent seasons, may be getting even closer.
</section>
What a finish for the unbeaten Pirates! Starling Marte his 1st career grand slam to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5.
[FONT=mlb_primary]<header class="cf top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"></header>[/FONT][FONT=mlb_primary]<header class="cf top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Marte's grand slam lifts Bucs over Reds</header>[/FONT][FONT=mlb_primary]<header class="cf top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"></header>[/FONT][FONT=mlb_primary]<header class="cf top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"></header>[/FONT][FONT=mlb_primary]<header class="cf top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">
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</figcaption></figure><section class="content cf article-bottom" style="margin: 22px auto 0px; padding: 0px 25px 33px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 660px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[FONT=mlb_primary !important]By Adam Berry / MLB.com | <button class="comment-button" style="margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border: none; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: mlb_primary; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 5px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">+
12 COMMENTS</button>
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CINCINNATI -- The Pirates loaded the bases in the fifth and seventh innings Friday night and came up empty-handed both times. Starling Marte assured that wouldn't be the case in the eighth inning, launching his first career grand slam to left field and sending the Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Pittsburgh entered the eighth inning 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Bucs had stranded 11 runners and made enough mistakes on defense to let the Reds to build up a three-run lead. Then Ross Ohlendorf hit John Jaso with a pitch and walked Andrew McCutchen. David Freese loaded the bases with an infield single.
That brought up Marte, who crushed a 1-0 slider from J.J. Hoover, who replaced Ohlendorf, into the left-field stands. It was Marte's first grand slam and the Bucs' first home run of the season; they entered the night as one of only three Major League teams without a homer.
While handing the Reds their first loss of the season, the Pirates moved to 4-0 for the first time since the start of the 2003 season.
Brandon Phillips helped give Cincinnati a lead, homering and driving in two runs in his return to the lineup after missing two games with a stomach virus. Phillips returned to the cleanup spot Friday night and immediately greeted Pirates starter Francisco Liriano with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw. Phillips drove in another run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly to center field. Battling his command and frequently working out of trouble, Liriano allowed three runs on five hits and four walks over five innings.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Frankie at the bat: After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Liriano immediately cut the Pirates' deficit in half. Jordy Mercer singled with two outs and scored on Liriano's ground ball double down the right-field line. Liriano padded his hitting stats in the fourth with an opposite-field single. The lefty is 12-for-34 with three doubles, a homer and nine RBIs over his last 15 starts.
Zack on the spot: The Pirates had cut the Reds' lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning and had runners on first and second with one out when Josh Harrison hit a sharp grounder toEugenio Suarez at third base. Suarez booted it for his second error of the inning but Zack Cozart retrieved the carom and was able to catch Marte, who had rounded third too far off the bag, in time to tag him for the final out of the inning.
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12 COMMENTS</button>
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CINCINNATI -- The Pirates loaded the bases in the fifth and seventh innings Friday night and came up empty-handed both times. Starling Marte assured that wouldn't be the case in the eighth inning, launching his first career grand slam to left field and sending the Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Pittsburgh entered the eighth inning 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Bucs had stranded 11 runners and made enough mistakes on defense to let the Reds to build up a three-run lead. Then Ross Ohlendorf hit John Jaso with a pitch and walked Andrew McCutchen. David Freese loaded the bases with an infield single.
That brought up Marte, who crushed a 1-0 slider from J.J. Hoover, who replaced Ohlendorf, into the left-field stands. It was Marte's first grand slam and the Bucs' first home run of the season; they entered the night as one of only three Major League teams without a homer.
While handing the Reds their first loss of the season, the Pirates moved to 4-0 for the first time since the start of the 2003 season.
Brandon Phillips helped give Cincinnati a lead, homering and driving in two runs in his return to the lineup after missing two games with a stomach virus. Phillips returned to the cleanup spot Friday night and immediately greeted Pirates starter Francisco Liriano with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw. Phillips drove in another run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly to center field. Battling his command and frequently working out of trouble, Liriano allowed three runs on five hits and four walks over five innings.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Frankie at the bat: After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Liriano immediately cut the Pirates' deficit in half. Jordy Mercer singled with two outs and scored on Liriano's ground ball double down the right-field line. Liriano padded his hitting stats in the fourth with an opposite-field single. The lefty is 12-for-34 with three doubles, a homer and nine RBIs over his last 15 starts.
Zack on the spot: The Pirates had cut the Reds' lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning and had runners on first and second with one out when Josh Harrison hit a sharp grounder toEugenio Suarez at third base. Suarez booted it for his second error of the inning but Zack Cozart retrieved the carom and was able to catch Marte, who had rounded third too far off the bag, in time to tag him for the final out of the inning.
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It would be a great time for his 1st career grand slam...Right on cue
UP NEXT
Pirates: Gerrit Cole makes his first start of the season. He's 0-4 in six career starts against Cincinnati with a 5.23 ERA. He went 0-3 in four starts against the Reds last year, giving up 13 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings.
Reds: Raisel Iglesias is 1-1 career against the Pirates with a 6.52 ERA, giving up 10 hits and seven runs in 9 2/3 innings.
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Pirates: Gerrit Cole makes his first start of the season. He's 0-4 in six career starts against Cincinnati with a 5.23 ERA. He went 0-3 in four starts against the Reds last year, giving up 13 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings.
Reds: Raisel Iglesias is 1-1 career against the Pirates with a 6.52 ERA, giving up 10 hits and seven runs in 9 2/3 innings.
| <small>Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds</small> | |||||||
| Sat 4/9 | 901 Pittsburgh Pirates G Cole - R | <input id="editx" name="S1_0" size="4" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"> -1½ +123 | <input id="editx" name="M1_0" size="4" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"> -141 Listed | <input id="editx" name="L1_0" size="4" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"> o7½ +118 | |||
| 1:10PM | 902 Cincinnati Reds R Iglesias - R | <input id="editx" name="S2_0" size="4" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"> +1½ -137 | <input id="editx" name="M2_0" size="4" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"> +131 Listed | <input id="editx" name="L2_0" size="4" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"> u7½ -132 |
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Its about time Hurdle has put the same lineup out everyday.He is one manager that usually never does that, and i believe it hurts them by not having the same players on the field to get used to each other.
anyway it was really nice to see Marte hit that grand slam in the 8th to give them the lead.
anyway it was really nice to see Marte hit that grand slam in the 8th to give them the lead.
