Bucs Run Away & Hide Early Behind Cutch To Take 7-2 Win At Miami

The Bucs opened with a rare walk to Josh when Chris Narveson lost him on a 3-2 pitch; it came up roses two outs later when Cutch doubled to left on an 0-2 fastball for a 1-0 lead. Didn't take long to tie it, though. With two gone, Martin Prado took Jeff Locke long.

The second was a good frame for Bucco bats. Michael Morse led of with a double; The Kid added another and scored on Stew's single. An out later, Josh walked and Starling singled in another run. Cutch then hammered a three-run shot over the scoreboard in left, 414' away. The Fish chipped away; a leadoff double came in after a pair of groundouts to make it 7-2.

The third went scorelessly, with the Bucs going down 1-2-3 and the Marlins stranding a two-out double. A walk and a single earned Narveson the hook with two down in the fourth; Erik Cordier came in and nailed the last out. Jeff gave up back-to-back knocks to open, but a DP helped him escape the jam. Pittsburgh went quietly in the fifth. Locke, with a 7-2 lead, walked the eight hitter, Adeiny Hechavarria and left him at third three outs later.

Not exactly Locke-down early, but finished strong (photo Dave Ariigo/Pirates)

It was an easy sixth for Cordier, who's retired seven straight Buccos. Jeff tossed his first clean frame. A-Ram broke the spell with a one-out walk in the seventh, but the other three Buccos whiffed. S-Rod went to first and Jeff spun a 1-2-3, six pitch inning. Scott McGough took the ball from Cordier; kinda glad Erik didn't start tonight. The Kid opened with a single and a slow roller moved him up. Pedro came up to hit for Jeff and worked a walk, but McGough breezed through it with a pop and bouncer. Joe Blanton took over and sat Miami down after a great stab at third by A-Ram.

McGough worked a clean ninth, and Joe finished in grand style, striking out the side. The Bucs rode a big inning and some role reversal from Jeff - we can't remember the last time he got stronger through a game, especially after sweating out the early rounds - to an easy win. Now to wait and see what the Cards and Cubs do on the coast tonight, with gerrit Cole on the bump tomorrow to close out the series against Justin Nicolino.

• Cutch's homer gave him 84 RBI; he had 83 in all of 2014. His high was 96 in 2012.
• About the unlikeliest pair to draw two walks each, Josh and A-Ram, pulled it off tonight.
• The Pirates have won 10-of-12.
• SS prospect Cole Tucker will miss 10 months to a full year after surgery today on the right labrum of his throwing shoulder. He was the Bucs first round pick in 2014. Cole is a puppy at 19, but missing a full season is still a tough blow.