Charlie Morton fell short of his electric performances of prior outings and Dillon Gee again limited the Pirates offense. New York ran away with this one, 8-1.
The first inning was a sign of things to come. Justin Turner was hit by Morton with one out. Carlos Beltran walked. Ronny Cedeno committed a rare gaffe on a bunt attempt from Daniel Murphy and all runners were safe. Angel Pagan’s grounder scored the first run of the game.
The Pirates appeared to have Gee’s number in the first inning. Jose Tabata, Josh Harrison and Andrew McCutchen commenced the game with singles. Tabata scored on McCutchen’s safety to even the score. But Gee made a behind the back stab of Neil Walker’s come-backer and forced Harrison at third base. He retired Lyle Overbay and Matt Diaz without any more issues.
The Pirates would get nothing else going against Gee until the eighth. The Mets starter allowed nothing but singles and was aided by a pair of double plays. In the eighth, Tabata and Harrison singled with two outs, but Xavier Paul – in as part of a double switch – was retired – to end the threat. Tim Byrdak gave up a single to Overbay in the ninth but retired newly called up Wyatt Toregas on a double play to end the game.
It was really long over before that. The Mets batted around and took control of the game in the fourth inning. Pagan doubled and scored on a single from Lucas Duda. A poor throw from McCutchen allowed Duda to advance to third. Josh Thole singled him home and then moved to second on Ruben Tejada’s single. Gee’s bunt forced Thole at third. But Jose Reyes smashed one off Overbay that went for an infield hit, loading the bases. Turner’s ground ball back up the box was deflected by Morton into leftfield. Two runs scored to make it 5-1. The final run scored on a sac fly by Carlos Beltran.
Morton was knocked from the game after giving up a lead off triple to Pagan in the fifth. Duda’s sac fly off reliever Daniel McCutchen scored him. Reyes hit a solo homer off of McCutchen in the sixth. That proved to be the final run of the game.
Morton went four plus innings. He was charged with six earned runs on nine hits and one walk. He falls to 6-3 on the year. Gee remains undefeated at 7-0. He went a career best eight innings and gave up eight singles and just the one run. He struck out five and walke no one.
The Good
Tabata had three hits and Harrison had two hits.
Bucco bullpen gave up just one run in five innings.
Welcome Wyatt Toregas and Tim Wood, who tossed a scoreless eighth. Wood was recalled when Evan Meek was placed on the disabled list.
The Bad
Just one run scored.
Bucs committed two errors and hit into three double plays.
The Rest
Gee is 2-0 in three career starts. Morton is 0-1 against the New Yorkers.
Gee’s previous long outing was 7-2/3 on 5/19/11 against the Nationals.
Tabata has nine hits in his last 17 at bats.
McCutchen extended his hitting streak to nine games.
