Buc Bats Silenced; Cards Even Series 4-1

The Bucs got a two out single by Cutch, who has become unstoppable in his first at bat, but that was it against Jamie Garcia. Charlie gave up a couple of ground ball singles, off JHK's mitt, but kept the Cards off the board.

In the second, Starling was bopped by a pitch and S-Rod singled, but Garcia struck out the other trio of Pirates for another zero. Morton, well he had another Charlie inning. A walk and hit batter were at second and third with two outs. Then a four pitch walk loaded 'em. Stephen Piscotty rolled one up the middle, right where Josh was waiting; it hit the side of the bag and took a big kick. Josh managed to corral the ball, but his one hopper to first wasn't picked by Michael Morse, and the single-and-error made it 2-0.

Jordy reached on an error for the Bucs only runner in the third; Brandon Moss bunted against the shift for the Cards' only knock.  The only action in the fourth was another S-Rod single (he also made a nice recovery on a ball he misjudged in right, making a leaping grab), and that was more than happened in the fifth. Pittsburgh went down quietly in the sixth; Kolten Wong drew a two out, four pitch walk before Charlie K'ed Jon Jay.

A couple of walks and a bad hop single spoiled a nice performance (photo USA Today)

S-Rod doubled in the seventh. He got to third after a wild pitch with two outs following a review (he was pushed of the base by Matt Carpenter) and pinch hitter A-Ram walked, but Josh couldn't cash them in, bouncing to short. Needless to say, not a real disciplined at bat in a clutch situation. Arquimedes Caminaro toed the rubber, and not too successfully. A leadoff walk was followed by a dinger into the bullpen by Matt Carpenter, and the Buc hole was suddenly 4-0. In the eighth, Kevin Siegrist gave up a walk and Joe Blanton a single.

Trevor Rosenthal gave up a knock to The Kid after striking out the first two Buccos in the ninth and wild pitched him up a station. That paid off in a run when Pedro rolled an opposite field single to left. Josh walked, making Jordy the tying run as he stepped to the plate...oops, make the Gregory Polanco, as he pinch hit for the SS. It didn't pay off; El Coffee swung through a 98 MPH heater to end the game.

Charlie pitched well; he always has that one inning when control, defense and flat out bad luck bite him. In the end, six hits and one run won't cut it. The Bucs did have chances, but stranded 10 runners with a 1-for 7 (and that one was with two outs in the ninth) RISP performance; 14 K will do that. Tomorrow night will decide the series under the bright lights of ESPN when Gerrit Cole takes on John Lackey.

• Sean Rodriguez had six straight hits, tying a season high for the team shared with Josh and Gregory. He's in the midst of an 11-for-18 streak.
• The Cards scored four runs. Two of the guys who touched home were walked, and another HBP. 
• Vance Worley and Travis Ishikawa are both in Indy's lineup today.