Scoreless streak ends, but Bucs keep winning

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CHICAGO

Amid the various streaks of scoreless innings from Pirates pitchers and catcher Francisco Cervelli, Jeff Locke extended one of his own Wednesday night.

During the Pirates’ 3-2 victory against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Locke pitched brilliantly until his final inning. He got swings and misses with his changeup. Right-handers had no answer for his inside fastball, which consistently buzzed the black. The first five of his six innings were scoreless, but two sixth-inning runs ended his scoreless-inning streak at 11. He allowed both walks and two of his three hits in the sixth, and he struck out a season-high eight batters.

The Pirates improved their record to 38-27 after winning their seventh game in a row. They have won 12 of their past 15 games and 20 of their past 25. Amazingly, they have gained very little ground on the first-place St. Louis Cardinals, who seem to keep getting better despite losing significant players to injuries.

Locke’s fastball sat at 93-94 mph, a tick or two faster than usual, and touched 95. He retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out the side in the second. The first White Sox batter to reach base was Adam Eaton, who Locke hit with a 1-2 pitch to start the bottom of the fourth, and Jose Abreu recorded their first hit two batters later.

Locke (4-3) got some help from Melky Cabrera. After Eaton reached, he broke for second on a two-strike pitch to Cabrera. Cabrera struck out swinging and his momentum carried him over the plate, in front of Cervelli, who came up throwing. Cabrera ducked, but was called for batter interference, meaning by rule Eaton was out.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura argued with home-plate umpire Alfonso Marquez, who eventually ejected him.

After five stellar innings, Locke concluded his outing by allowing two runs in the sixth. With two outs, he walked Eaton. Cabrera’s double into the left-field corner scored a run. With first base open, Locke walked Abreu, then allowed an RBI single to Avisail Garcia, which reduced the Pirates’ lead to 3-2.

The runs ended the Pirates’ streak of scoreless innings at 35 in a row. The previous time the Pirates had a streak of that length was May 17-21, 1972, when they held opponents without a run for 36 consecutive innings. Cervelli’s streak of scoreless innings caught also ended at 56.

After four batters, the Pirates had three runs. Josh Harrison led off with a double and moved to third base on Starling Marte’s sacrifice bunt. Andrew McCutchen singled to drive in one run.

Jung Ho Kang went the opposite way with the first pitch he saw from John Danks, lining it just over the wall in right field for his fourth home run of the season.

After McCutchen’s third-inning single, Danks (3-7) recorded 12 outs in a row. Danks allowed three runs in seven innings and struck out four without walking a batter.

Starling Marte left the game in the ninth due to pain in his left ankle, which he appeared to suffer crossing first base on a groundout in the eighth.