MLB
Pirates End Eight-Game Skid
The Pittsburgh Pirates end their eight-game skid Tuesday against the Texas Rangers with a 6-4 victory in eleven innings.
Losing Streak
The losing streak dates back to when the Pirates dropped the finale of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants 3-2. The streak would continue when the Arizona Diamondbacks came to town for a four-game series and the D’Backs won all four games and outscored the Pirates 30-7. The Pirates traveled to Los Angeles where the Dodgers swept the series and outscored the Pirates 16-9. Overall, during the eight-game losing skid the Pirates were outscored 49-18.
Tuesday Against the Rangers
Tuesday proved to be a much-needed lift. The Rangers scored first putting two runs up in the bottom of the fourth and added another run in the bottom of the eighth. However, the big blows came from the Pirates when it mattered. Bryan Reynolds led the 11th inning with his first career home run, which was followed by a Starling Marte two-run home run. Marte appeared in his first game since his injury on April 19th.
The Pirates got on the board in the 9th inning when they scored three runs off Rangers closer Jose Leclerc. Adam Frazier hit a RBI single and Josh Bell hit a two-run double.
Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run single in the fourth for the Rangers.
Pitching
Texas Rangers starter Adrian Sampson threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in which Sampson struck out five without a walk, and also hit a batter. Sampson was a fifth-round draft pick by the Pirates in the 2012 amateur draft.
Pirates pitcher Jordan Lyles threw four innings striking out five batters. Lyles did have a season-high four walks. Lyles allowed three hits and two earned runs.
What’s Next?
The Pirates and Rangers will square off in the rubber game of the short two-game series tomorrow afternoon. RHP Jameson Taillon is scheduled for the pirates (1-3, 4.06 ERA). Taillon is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA on the road thus far this season. He allowed five runs in five innings against Arizona in his last outing.
Opposing him for the Rangers is RHP Shelby Miller (1-1, 7.52 ERA). Miller is 2-7 in his career against the Pirates with a 4.88 ERA in 10 games.
Conclusion
Pirates end eight-game skid as they defeat the Rangers 6-4. After tomorrow’s game, the Pirates will head back to PNC for a home stand beginning with a visit from the Oakland Athletics.
Photo Credit to Pirates via Twitter
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