If the Pirates manage just four singles and one run, it must mean Paul Maholm started. Brandon Morrow outdueled Maholm and whiffed ten pirates on the way to a 2-1 win.
Afer setting down the first ten Pirates he faced, Morrow was scored upon first. Neil Walker walked starting off the fifth. Lyle Overbay singled. Walker attempted to score on a grounder from Matt Diaz but was out at home. Ronny Cedeno’s single scored Overbay. That would be all Pittsburgh would get. Pittsburgh would advance just one runner to third after the fifth inning.
Rookie Eric Thames hit his first Major League homer leading off the sixth to tie the score. Toronto went up in the seventh when Rajai Davis and Yunel Escobar hit consecutive doubles. That was all Morrow needed. Frank Francisco pitched a scoreless ninth to seal it.
Maholm gave up nine hits and and both runs in seven innings. He walked two ands struck out one. Morrow’s ten whiffs came in seven innings. He allowed four singles and one run along with three walks.
The Good
Maholm.
Cedeno had two hits.
The Bad
The offense.
Bucs struck out ten times
The Rest
Morrow had never faced Pittsburgh again. Maholm falls to 1-1 against the Jays.
Xavier Paul was a last second scratch, being replaced by Diaz.
