Vance Worley terrific in Pirates debut, but Bucs lose in extras

Vance Worley was terrific through seven shutout innings, but the Pirates blew a 2-0 lead and fell 3-2 in the 10th.

Worley struck out five, walked none, and threw 68 of his 95 pitches for strikes. He rarely topped 90 and mostly worked in the high 80s, but he didn't walk anyone and didn't make many mistakes, usually avoiding the middle of the plate. It's funny how these things work out. Worley didn't look like a Quad-A pitcher who backed into a good start, he looked like a real big-leaguer. Not bad for a free-talent acquisition.

Gregory Polanco hit an infield single in the third, then came home on Starling Marte's double to left. Then the first two batters reached base in the Pirates' half of the fourth, and Josh Harrison slashed a single to right.

Tony Watson relieved Worley in the eighth and immediately allowed two ground-ball singles. Watson then struck out Reed Johnson and Giancarlo Stanton, but then both runners scored on Casey McGehee's double. Jared Hughes pitched the ninth in a tie game -- not an ideal use of Jared Hughes, I don't think, given that Mark Melancon should have been rested. But maybe the idea was to have Melancon close, given that Jason Grilli pitched the last two games. Anyway, Hughes got through the ninth. The Pirates then loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th but failed to score, thanks largely to a double play by Russell Martin. Then, in the 10th, Hughes allowed a single, a sacrifice, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, and the Marlins walked off, 3-2.