The Pirates beat their old manager. And one of the players he tinkered with led the way.
Zach Duke allowed just three hits and two runs over six excellent innings. The Pirates offense provided just enough runs against Jorge De La Rosa and the Colorado bullpen to make it work.
The Pirates jumped to an early lead. Andrew McCutchen doubled leading off the game and scored on a Jose Tabata single. Tabata would later score on a two out wild pitch from De La Rosa.
Colorado managed just one hit off of Duke until Brad Hawpe and Clint Barmes homered with no one on and none out in the fifth inning. Pittsburgh jumped back ahead in the top of the sixth when Garrett Jones hit a double that scored Tabata. Neil Walker homered in the 8th against Joe Beimel for the final tally.
Duke gave up three hits and two runs in six innings. He struck out four and walked two. De La Rosa struck out eight, but took the loss after giving up three runs (two earned) in seven innings on six hits. Octavio Dotel pitched the 9th for the save.
The Good
More of the same from Duke, please.
Walker had three hits.
The Bad
The Rest
Duke won for just the second time in his last 14 starts. Duke is 4-2 against Colorado, matching his career best in wins against any single team. De La Rosa is now 3-2 against Pittsburgh in five starts and four relief appearances.
This was the fourth career three hit game for Walker and his second this month.
Dotel is one save away from tying his second best single season mark.
Colorado has scored more than four runs just twice since the All-Star break (37 runs in twelve games). They have lost seven straight and are just 2-10 since the break.
