The Pirates held a nice 7-4 margin and needed just six outs. They got four outs, but allowed five runs in the process to lose the game.
Andrew McCutchen’s bases loaded triple in the seventh gave the Pirates a 5-4 lead. Nyjer Morgan followed with a single to make it 6-4 and Brandon Moss drove in a run in the 8th for the Pirates final tally.
But Colorado and Jim Tracy rallied. Chris Iannetta drilled a two out three run homer off of John Grabow in the 8th inning to tie it. Huston Street put two Pirates on in the 9th but emerged without a blemish. Then Jesse Chavez gave up a two run one out tater to Todd Helton in the 9th. Ball game.
Charlie Morton gave up two runs on five hits in five innings. Jason Hammel, who had won his last three starts, gave up five runs in six plus. Ian Stewart was the early hitting star for the Rockies. He drove in three runs with a double, triple and dinger.
The Good
Apparently angered by the comment made by Norris in yesterday’s summary, Nyjer Morgan had four hits and made a ridiculous catch of a foul ball.
Brandon Moss had three hits, including two doubles.
The Bad
The bullpen. Including Sean Burnett who relieved Morton, the Pirates bullpen gave up 7 runs in 3-1/3.
The Rest
Morgan’s only other four hit game came 9-23-08 in Milwaukee.
McCutchen already has four triples. The last Pirate rookie to record more was Jose Guillen with five in 1997. Last Pirate rookie with more than five were Gene Freese (8) and Roberto Clemente (11) both in 1955.
The Rockies are 17-5 under Jim Tracy. Last time the Pirates won 17 games in 22 contests? I have no idea and I’m too depressed to look.
