Blown Opportunities Cost Pirates In 5-4 Loss To Philadelphia
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) -- The Pirates had their chances late against the Phillies to grab the lead and snap a two-game losing skid.
However, they blew chances in both the seventh and eighth innings with runners in scoring position and eventually lost, 5-4, in Philadelphia Tuesday night.
Trailing, 4-2, in the top of the seventh, Clint Barmes walked and Michael McKenry singled, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Drew Sutton pinch hit for starting pitcher Erik Bedard and drove in a run with a double to left field to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Jose Tabata followed with a ground out. Neil Walker then flew out to left field and McKenry tried tagging but was thrown out easily to end the inning.
In the eighth, Andrew McCutchen led off with a double but didn't budge from second base, as Josh Harrison and Casey McGehee both popped out and Pedro Alvarez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Things got worse for Pittsburgh (38-35) in the bottom of the eighth when Carlos Ruiz hit a leadoff home run to left field for a 5-3 Phillies lead. McKenry would hit a solo homer of his own in the top of the ninth inning off Philadelphia closer Jonathan Papelbon, but it wasn't enough as the Buccos lost, 5-4.
Ruiz started the game with an RBI single in the first inning for a 1-0 Phillies lead. McKenry followed in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Alvarez from third to tie the game.
Placido Polanco hit an RBI single in the second and Ty Wigginton belted a two-run homer to left field for a 4-1 lead in the third for a 4-1 Philadelphia advantage.
McGehee drove home McCutchen in the sixth, setting up the game-tying chancs in the seventh and eighth that went unsuccessful for the Pirates.
Bedard (4-8, 4.27 ERA) pitched six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. His mound counterpart, Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92 ERA), got the win, pitching six innings and allowing three runs on six hits.
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