It was the McCutchen-Sanchez show early on as Andrew McCutchen and Freddy Sanchez turned a combined four hits into three runs. McCutchen tripled and scored in the first on a Sanchez single. One inning later, it was a two run blast by Sanchez that plated McCutchen. All that damage was done against Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa.
Paul Maholm was unable to do much with that lead. Colorado tied the score with three runs in the bottom of the second and then pushed across single runners in the third and fourth.
That was good enough for De La Rosa. He allowed an RBI knock to Brandon Moss in the sixth. In the end he gave up four runs in 5-2/3 innings. Colorado’s bullpen was perfect in 3-1/3 innings of work.
The Good
It is a three man race for the Pirates All-Star selection. I say it is between Freddy Sanchez, Zach Duke or perhaps Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen’s fifth triple of his young season ties him for the NL lead.
The Bad
Maholm has given up 13 earned runs in his last two outings.
Delwyn Young was hitless again, but did reach via HBP
The Rest
The Rockies are 18-5 under Jim Tracy. His best 23 game mark as the Pirates’ skipper in 2006 and 2007 was 15-8.
Welcome back Josh Fogg. He was unblemished against three hitter in relief of De La Rosa.
The Rockies swept four games from the Pirates in Colorado last July 17-20. The last Pirate win in Coors field was 8-23-07 behind Maholm.
