The Pirates offense continued to struggle as Barry Zito was knocked around for nine hits in 5-2/3 innings, but continually pitched out of trouble as he allowed just one run. With two on and no one out in the sixth, Zito got Luis Cruz and Charlie Morton out. With Andrew McCutchen due up, he was pulled for Sergio Romo. McCutchen, who had doubled and scored in the first, whiffed to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Morton surrendered an RBI double to Eugenio Velez, who had knotted the score earlier in the contest with a solo dinger.
Jesse Chavez yielded and RBI to Pablo Sandoval in the 7th. The Pirates scored off Jeremy Affeldt in the 8th on a sac fly from Cruz. But Brian Wilson closed out the game in the 9th for the save.
Romo was the winner, going 1/3 of an inning. Morton was the loser despite allowing just two earned runs in six innings.
The Good
Bucs collected 10 hits after getting just nine in the previous two games
I’ll take that outing from Morton all season long.
Ryan Doumit stayed hot with two more hits.
The Bad
4th straight loss.
Bucs have scored just four runs in those four losses.
The Rest
This was the 12th time this year the Pirates managed 10 hits in a losing effort.
Velez came into the game just 3-18 in his career against the Pirates.
Despite a career 3.63 ERA, Zito was 0-3 in three career starts against Pittsburgh before tonight.
Newly acquired Ryan Garko was 0-4 in his San Fran debut.
Steve Pearce was the only Pirate non-pitcher without a hit.
