PITTSBURGH – For the first time in his young career, Gerrit Cole completed a start without striking out a single batter. Instead, the Pirates leaned on strong team defense to lock down a 2-1 victory, their fifth in six games, over the Colorado Rockies tonight at PNC Park.
According to the Baseball-Reference Play Index, the last time an NL starting pitcher got a win while going at least seven innings, allowing 10 or more hits, and getting no strikeouts was Marlins pitcher Dennis Springer on September 21, 1999 against the Montreal Expos.
“It just shows you there are a lot of ways you can cut the cake. We’re out there pitching for wins and not stat lines,” Cole said after the game. After his strong performance in Chicago on Sunday, Cole has now surrendered a single run in his last two starts.
Clint Hurdle gave credit to both Cole and the Rockies after the game for trading punches throughout. “Their club [had] a very good offensive approach. They battled every at-bat. That lineup is a tough lineup, and Gerrit stayed aggressive and kept going after them.”
Cole had similar things to say about the Rockies lineup. “It’s hard to get a fastball by them. They seem to stay on different kinds of speed, so you really gotta be on your game.” His game tonight relied heavily on the fastball, which he threw for 78 of his 109 pitches, about five percentage points higher than his season average (67.5%).
The Rockies were aggressive against Cole from the start, putting two runners on with one out in the top of the first inning, but Carlos Gonzalez lined out to David Freese to start a 5-3 double play. More significant trouble came in the fourth inning, after singles by Nolan Arenado and Mark Reynolds around a walk by Gonzalez left the bases loaded with one out. A ground ball to first by Gerardo Parra forced the second out at the plate, and Cole induced another grounder from D.J. LeMahieu to end the inning.
Arenado would tie the game in the top of the sixth with a 402 foot solo home run to left field. The home run was his third hit of the night, and his fifth in eight career plate appearances against Cole.
When the Pirates came to the plate in the bottom of the inning, Freese would break the ice, sending a 1-2 pitch back up the middle to score Starling Marte, who singled and moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Rockies starter Eddie Butler had been working Freese up and away with high velocity earlier in the at bat, but missed up-and-in on the RBI single that proved to be the winning margin.
Tony Watson pitched around a walk for an otherwise clean eighth inning, and Mark Melancon surrendered two singles in the ninth inning before getting Charlie Blackmon to line out to Marte to complete the Pirates’ victory and earn his 14th save.
BALLS IN PLAY ALLOW DEFENSE TO SHINE
The unintentional pitch-to-contact approach — Cole got only four whiffs — forced the Pirates to rely on strong team defense. John Jaso snared two line drives and threw out Arenado at the plate with the bases loaded. Freese started a double play and made and nicely fielded a well-hit ground ball to throw out pinch hitter Ryan Rayburn in the seventh.
On the preceding play, Marte did his best to ensure the 1-1 tie remained in place, gunning down Dustin Garneau at the plate as he was trying to score on a single by Charlie Blackmon. It was Marte’s sixth outfield assist so far this season.
Clint Hurdle praised Marte’s preparation and commitment on the defensive side.
“For him to continue to show the arm strength and the accuracy, it’s as good a combination as there is,” Hurdle said. “You never take him for granted. It’s a game-changing play.”
The Pirates will look for similar defensive performance, and perhaps a few more strikeouts, as Jon Niese takes the mound tomorrow afternoon at 4:05 PM against Tyler Chatwood.
OTHER NOTES
- After going 1-for-3 tonight with a triple, Jordy Mercer is now hitting .298/.388/.369 (106 wRC+), and has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games against Colorado. Mercer was hitting .192/.248/.223 (24 wRC+) through 40 games played last season.
- Tony Watson last allowed a run when the Pirates played the Rockies on April 29th. He has given up only two hits and three walks while striking out seven in his last eight appearances.
- Gerrit Cole mentioned that the middle infield combination of Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison is now being referred to as “Salt & Pepper.” Do with that information as you see fit.
