Charlie Rolls As Bucs Take Opener from SF 4-0

Nice quiet first frame for Charlie Morton. The Bucs dinged Jake Peavy for a run in their half. Starling got plunked with an out and tagged to second when Cutch's drive just missed leaving the park. That base was big as A-Ram sliced a ground rule double to right to make it 1-0. Buster Posey opened the second with a knock and was quickly erased as part of a 6-3 DP, nicely done at both ends. Nori Aoki drew a seven pitch walk and stole second, but was left standing. Peavy gave up a knock to Fran; that at least turned the order over.

Ryan Lollis rolled a single to right and an out later, after a failed bunt, a force and another single had Charlie in some hot water. A whiff on a nasty curve cooled the temp to zero. Gregory beat out a ball to second, and Marte forced him at second, foiled by a fine play by SS Brandon Crawford. Cutch again flew out deep to center. Starling stole second, followed by a nine-pitch A-Ram walk. JHK drilled a heater away to right for a double, bringing home Marte, but The Kid couldn't bring the other ducks in from the pond, smoking a hard one hopper to first. Jake dodged a couple of bullets, tho the Bucs were up 2-0.

Charlie was good today, K'ing eight (photo USA Today)

Charlie tossed a calm fourth, using five pitches to sit down the Giants. The Bucs also sat down in order. With an out in the fifth, Lollis walked, stole second and stayed there after a pair of punch outs. With one gone, Starling rolled one up the middle, but nothing developed but a pair of flies to right. It was a tidy sixth, with two more K; Charlie now has seven. The Pirates gave Chuck a little more elbow room when Jung-Ho singled and The Kid lifted a ball over the RF wall to make it 4-0 before Peavy righted the ship.

Charlie hit Crawford to start the seventh and an out later, Kelby Tomlinson singled him to second. Morton stayed in to face Hollis, who has given him a devil of a night, and got him on a tapper that moved up the runners; The Kid passed probable force to get the out at first. Ahire Adrianza grabbed a stick and was clipped in the foot by a 1-2 curve to load 'em. That was it for Charlie, who left to a rockin' sold-out house on its feet for his performance as Jared Hughes took the ball. Gregor Blanco banged a 2-2 slider to right, but Gregory was equal to the task and shut the gate on the Giants.

Yusmeiro Petit took over for Peavy. Starling singled; the rest of the Bucs whiffed. Hughes stayed on, and gave up a single and nothing else. Neil stroked a one out knock, but Pedro hit into a DP to bring it to the ninth. Tony Watson took the ball, which was a bit of a surprise. He gave up a single and walk, on a very borderline call, but preserved both the win and shutout.

A timely hit or two and a great job on the hill by Chuck. Tomorrow will be a test as Jeff Locke takes on Madison Bumgarner.

• Starling, JHK and The Kid combined for six hits, all four runs and three RBI.
• Jordy & Josh may be back this weekend.
• The i's were dotted, the t's crossed and the physical passed, so Travis Snider officially joined Indy today.
• Tonight's attendance of 36,671 was the 19th sellout of the season.