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Sanchez delivers again
Photo
Pirates baserunner Pedro Alvarez scores on a double by Tony Sanchez off Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright during the seventh inning of Sunday’s game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The Pirates won 2-1.
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
For his first start with the Pirates, Edinson Volquez beat Adam Wainwright. That’ll do nicely as an early return on that offseason contract he signed.
Tony Sanchez hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Sunday. It was his second game-winning it since early Thursday when Sanchez singled home the winning run in the 16th inning of a victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Signed to a one-year, $5 million contract as a free agent in December, Volquez was sharp in his first start for the Pirates as he gave up one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts. That came after Volquez pitched two scoreless innings of relief Thursday against the Cubs.
“What you saw was fastball command with downhill angle, big-time spin and tilt on the breaking ball, a good changeup and getting ahead with good pitches,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He pitched a gem.”
Volquez got a standing ovation when he walked off the mound.
“I think I did a great job and the fans appreciated what I did,” Volquez said. “I just wanted to keep making another good pitch, keep the ball down and get them to hit the ball on the ground. All my pitches were there.”
Sanchez’s double to deep center field with two outs came off Wainwright (1-1) and snapped a 1-1 tie.
“I’m still nervous playing up here,” Sanchez said. “My heart is racing. My head is spinning. It feels like the game is going 1,000 mph. So, it’s nice to be able to get some big hits.”
The hit by the rookie reserve catcher scored Pedro Alvarez, who led off the inning with a walk.
“I can’t let what happen in the seventh inning happen, especially in a close game, a rivalry game like this,” Wainwright said. “I walked the leadoff man then left a ball out over the plate with two outs and Sanchez took a good swing at it. You can’t do that.”
Tony Watson (1-0) retired all four batters he faced, striking out three, and ran his string of consecutive scoreless innings to 24, dating to last season. Jason Grilli pitched a scoreless ninth to convert his first save.
St. Louis managed just three hits.
Volquez’s 5.71 ERA last season with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers was the highest among the 81 pitchers who qualified for the ERA title. He also allowed 15 runs in 13 innings in exhibition games this spring.
Wainwright went seven innings and allowed two runs and five hits after pitching seven scoreless innings in his first start of the season at Cincinnati in Monday’s opener. He struck out seven and walked two.
The Pirates opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Andrew McCutchen doubled with one out and scored on Neil Walker’s two-out double.
An RBI triple by the Cardinals’ Jon Jay in the sixth tied the score at 1-1 and chased Volquez.