James McDonald’s attempt to win his tenth game evaporated in a four run fifth inning. Javier Vazquez didn’t allow a run in six innings as the Fish swept the Buccos.
The Pirates stranded three in the second inning when McDonald struck out with the bases loaded. Florida put runners on second and third in the fourth inning, but failed to score.
The fireworks happened in the fifth. Vazquez walked to lead off the inning. Two outs later Greg Dobbs doubled him in. Gaby Sanchez singled home Dobbs. After Bryan Petersen walked, Donnie Murphy doubled in both runners and it was 4-0 in favor of Florida.
It wasn’t until the seventh that the Pirates got anything going. Clay Hensley was on in relief of Vazquez. Josh Harrison singled with one out. He moved to second on a ground ball out from Ronny Cedeño. Jason Jaramillo, who came into the game when Ryan Doumit leftbafter being hit in the chest by a ball from McDonald that crossed him up, singled home Harrison.
The Pirates failed to advance a runner past second after the outburst in the seventh. Former Bucco farm hand Leo Nuñez pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
McDonald gave up all four runs in 4-2/3 innings. He gave up ficve hits and four walks. He struck out three. Vazquez earned the win behind six innngs of no run pitching. He gave up just three hits and walked two. He whiffed seven.
The Good
Jaramillo had two hits.
The bullpen combined to throw 4 1/3 innings of shutout baseball.
The Bad
Doumit got hurt.
McDonald got nicked up.
The Rest
McDonaldnfalls to 1-3 in his career against the Marlins. Vazquez is 7-3 against the Pirates. He has won his last four decisions.
Bucs have three pitchers with nine wins and one with twelve. Last time they had three pitchers with double figures in wins was 2004 when Josh Fogg, Jeff Suppan and Kip Wells each one ten games.
Last time e club put four pitchers on the hill with double figure wins was 1997. Jon Leiber, Esteban Loaiza, Francisco Cordero and Jason Schmidt each hit double figures. Marc Wilins and Steve Cooke both hit nine wins that year.
