It was Marco Estrada. It might has well have been Bill Travers or Jerry Augustine or some random guy out of the stands. Estrada tossed five innings and four relievers each tossed one as the Pirates were shutout on three hits.
Estrada was given a spot start in place of Chris Narveson. He made the most of it by allowing just one hit and no walks in his five innings.
Milwaukee got all the offense it would need in the second when Yuniesky Betancourt Hit a one out solo homer on a two strike offering from Kevin Correia.
Milwaukee had a lot of other opportunities but failed to convert. They got lead off hits in four of the first five innings but didn’t convert as Correia pitched out of trouble.
The Pirates blew a great chance to score in the ninth. Xavier Paul led off with a triple against John Axford. The infield moved in and Axford retired Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones on grounders that failed to score Paul. Neil Walker struck to end it.
Correia went 6-2/3 and gave up seven hits and three walks. Estrada was the winner. Afford picked up the save.
The Good
Correia and the relief corp were solid.
The Bad
Getting shutout.
Collecting only three hits.
Striking out in double digits again.
Falling another game out of first.
The Rest
Correia is just 2-6 against Milwaukee. Estrada hadn’t started since May 4th. He is now 1-0 against Pittsburgh.
Zack Greinke was used as a pinch hitter for Estrada.
Bucs have been shutout eleven times in 2011. They have been shutout three times in August.
