Jones’ Blast, Morton’s Effort Push Bucs to 4th Straight W

The Pirates offense was loudly efficient tonight. The team totaled just five hits. But three of them went for extra bases. Trailing 1-0 with two out in the third, Garrett Jones drilled a three run homer high into the seats in left. In the fourth, Lastings Milledge crushed a solo homer. In the next inning, Andrew McCutchen tripled into the notch and scored on a sac fly from Delwyn Young. And the Pirates were hitless the rest of the way.

Those five runs were all Charlie Morton needed. He allowed two runs in 6-1/3 inning to get the win. Matt Capps brought the tying run to the plate with a single and an error, but escaped without a blemish.

Micah Owings gave up all five Bucco hits and all five runs. He was pulled for a pinch hitter after five innings. Keeping up his strong offensive showings, he singled and scored the Reds first run.

The Good

Four straight wins

Morton’s effort

Jones keeps bashing

1/2 game out of fifth

The Bad

Ronny Cedeno’s error in the 9th caused a few moments of tension

The Rest

Bucs have their first four game winning streak since June 24-27 during interleague play against Cleveland and KC. Not exactly the Yanks and Red Sox.

This was Jones first ever three RBI game. He has the team lead in HR.

Morton won for the first time since July 18.

Owings came into the game with six hits in 12 ABs against the Pirates. His record against the Pirates fell to 1-3.

Bucs 3B have six homers and 43 RBI. Bucs SS have eight homers and 55 RBI. Bottom line: Andy LaRoche has yet to impress. In 2007 Jack Wilson and the Pirates SS outhit Jose Bautista and the Pirates 3B (one more homer and the same number of RBI). Bottom line, Andy LaRoche has been not done a good enough job with the lumber.

Pirates are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1979 World Series and each club wore throw back uniforms.