The Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Colorado Rockies 9-3 last night at PNC Park. The Pirates used the bullpen “opener” strategy to start the game, and the Rockies jumped out to a 9-2 lead by the fifth inning. Montana DuRapau didn’t make it out of the first inning, allowing three earned runs in 2/3rds of an inning. Nick Kingham followed, allowing six earned runs on nine hits over four innings.
(The strategy doesn’t work when you are using minor league pitchers against major league pitching..)
The Pirates had eight hits in the game, including two hits each from Josh Bell and Elias Diaz. Bell hit another towering shot that left the stadium, and ended in the Allegheny river. It traveled an estimated 454 feet.
Wednesday’s game was the 2,500th Major League Baseball game managed by Clint Hurdle. He is the 33rd in MLB history to reach that mark.
The Pirates and Rockies complete their three-game series this afternoon at 12:35pm. Jordan Lyles will start for the Bucs.
In the Frontier League – The Washington Wild Things lost to the Florence Freedom 17-3, but Butler native Mick Fennell went 2-for-4 for Washington.