Morton still perfect as Bucs blank Sox

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

To a man, the Pirates starting rotation insists there is no sense of gamesmanship among them, no underlying need to try and outdo one another.

It just looks like it.

A week ago Charlie Morton ended a two-game skid by blanking the Milwaukee Brewers. When his spot in the rotation came up again Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox, the spark Morton started has turned into a wave that shows no signs of slowing down.

If Morton felt any pressure, it didn’t show. He worked seven efficient innings to remain unbeaten in his return from the disabled list as the Pirates rolled to a 3-0 victory. His sinker forcing the White Sox to pound the ball into the dirt, Morton (5-0) struck out three and walked just one to lower his ERA to 1.62.

On most teams, that number would be eye-popping. Not on Pittsburgh, where three starters have sub-2.00 ERAs.

“I just go out there and try to keep my team in the game,” Morton said with a shrug.

That’s hardly a problem at the moment for the streaking Pirates, who have won six straight, five by shutout, including the last three. It’s the first time the Pirates have put up zeroes in three consecutive games since the final three games of the 1976 season against St. Louis.

“I haven’t seen anything like this in all my years managing, a run like this of starting pitching,” manager Clint Hurdle said.

Pittsburgh’s starters have surrendered one earned run in the last 431/3 innings, including 141/3 scoreless innings by Morton.

“Nobody is going to get cut if they don’t throw a shutout,” Hurdle said with a smile. “They’re just going out there trying to keep this thing moving.”

Francisco Cervelli and Sean Rodriguez hit solo home runs for the Pirates. Starling Marte, who had two hits, is batting .600 (15 for 25) over his last five games.

Mark Melancon worked a perfect ninth for his 21st save.

Jose Quintana (3-7) gave up three runs in six innings and again received little support in his 100th career start. The White Sox have dropped five straight.

“We’ve got to be able to swing the bats better,” Chicago manager Robin Ventura said.

“You tip your hat somewhat but some of it’s just a funk we’re in that we have to be able to find a way out of it.”

The White Sox managed all of two hits while getting blanked by Francisco Liriano on Monday night. They weren’t any more effective 24 hours later against Morton, who is enjoying the best stretch of his uneven career following a lengthy layoff from hip surgery and some extra time in the minors refining his mechanics.