The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a big win over the last-place St. Louis Cardinals in their division.
Pittsburgh won 11-1 at home against St. Louis on April 22 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. With the win, the Pirates improved to 56 wins and 69 losses. St. Louis is 55 for 71.
Bae Ji-hwan, who had started three straight games since returning from injury, was held out of the lineup and did not play. He was alone in the dugout as the rest of the bench came in to rest the starters. The game was too one-sided for him to be used as a substitute or pinch-hitter.
Pittsburgh gave opposing starter Drew Rom, who was making his big league debut, a taste of the big leagues.
In the first inning, Brian Reynolds led off with a double to right-center field and scored on an infield single by Endy Rodriguez to put runners on first and third.
In the third, Leover Peguero doubled to right field with the bases loaded.
In the fourth, it was all about the big hits. Keebrian Hayes doubled to right-center field, followed by Conor Jo’s double over the center field fence, and then Josh Palacios’ three-run homer to make it 8-0.
Rom, one of the top prospects acquired by the Cardinals in exchange for Zach Flaherty to the Baltimore Orioles, suffered a disastrous debut, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.
Palacios made it his day with a grand slam over the right field bleachers as his brother Richie Palacios watched from the opposite dugout, then a two-run double to full-center field with runners on first and second in the eighth inning. The five RBIs were a career high.
Not everyone was as happy. Zack Suwinski had a rough day at the plate, striking out swinging with runners on second and third in the first inning, and retiring the side in order with two outs in the sixth on a fly ball to right field.
The opener, Thomas Hatch, exceeded expectations. He set the tone with three innings of two-hit ball, one walk and one strikeout.
Bailey Palter followed with a big inning of relief. She was able to get through the innings against a depleted St. Louis lineup.토스카지노
The Cardinals saved their bullpen for the big inning. Casey Lawrence, who relieved Rom in the fourth inning, worked the rest of the way. After giving up a solo home run to Andrew Kizner in the fifth, she didn’t allow a run.
Tommy Edmon, playing center field, went hitless at the plate but made a defensive play in the bottom of the eighth inning when he threw Alfonso Rivas’ well-hit ball over the fence to prevent a run from scoring.