Long Balls Carry Rox To 5-2 Win In Series Opener

Bad start by Steven Brault; a walk, double, wild pitch and grounder put the Rox up 2-0 after three batters. German Marquez had a two-out bump - Starling walked, stole second and got to third on a bad throw but died there. The second and third innings were clean. The fourth wasn't; a walk, single and three-run dinger by Trevor Story put the Bucs in a deep, 5-0, hole. Steven's lack of attack hurt; he was up 0-2 before giving up the walk and the dinger. The Pirates went down in order. Brault gave up a leadoff knock to the pitcher in the fifth but no further scoreboard damage; the Pirates got on the board with a Cervy triple and Red Beard sac fly. The Rox led off the sixth with a single - that's four of six innings the first Rockie has reached - but no problems; a fly out and throw out DP by Corey D ended the frame.Pittsburgh kept chipping;a two-out triple by Starling chased Gregory home.

Tyler's still trying to get it together (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Tyler Glasnow took the hill in the seventh and same ol' - he walked the first batter, who reached third eventually on a steal and wild pitch, but stayed 90' short of the dish. Chris Rusin came on and Corey D greeted him with a single. A force and around-the-horn DP put the damper down quickly. Charlie Blackmon homered with two away in the eighth off Glasnow, drilling a full-count fastball over the Clemente Wall. Jordy's infield knock was the Bucco's only response. Kyle Crick took the bump in the ninth. With one gone, an infield single and walk put him in a bit of a spot, but Kyle left them at second and third after a grounder and whiff. Adam Ottavino put it to bed.

The Bucs aren't gonna win many games with four hits, and the Rockies were pretty opportunistic, stranding just three runners. Steve Brault had a rough day, too; he's gonna have break loose if he wants to shake the Jeff Locke 2.0 designation. And hey - maybe they'll put a couple of fire barrels out tomorrow night; it can't be fun playing as the Polar Pirates day after day.

Notes:

• Corey Dickerson is rolling along with an 11-game hitting streak. His outfield work has been an eye opener, too - his four assists lead the majors and he has a plus 7 DRS (runs saved).
• J-Bell had a tough night with three K's and a tapper to first.
• Tonight's paid attendance was 8,958. As hot as the Bucs are, that's how cold the weather's been. The Pens and the disgruntled fans sure aren't helping the cause. The Pirates aren't even the worse at losing crowds; it's a league wide phenomena, as examined by Yahoo!Sports Jeff Passan.
• Going into tonight, Steven Brault was the first pitcher since Fred Hutchinson in 1940 to not strike out in his first 28 plate appearances. He kept that streak alive, going 0-for-1.