D-backs’ offense explodes in early innings / Bucs fall 9-3

Chad Kuhl just didn’t have it today. He was yanked in the third inning after allowing eight earned runs on eight hits and a walk. The Bucs’ bullpen teamed up to put together seven solid innings of relief; Brault threw three scoreless innings, Rodriguez threw two scoreless, and Feliz allowed one unearned run over two innings.

But, their efforts were for naught as Pittsburgh’s offense couldn’t cover the ground lost in the early innings. Even with apparent veteran hitter Austin Meadows going three for four at the dish, the Pirates eventually fell 9-3.

Here’s how the scoring went:

Arizona poured it on quick, early, and often when Bucs’ old nemesis, Jon Jay, led off the game with a ground-rule double to left. After Goldschmidt walked and a Peralta force out, Descalso was able to score Jay on a sacrifice fly to right.

Then, Bucs’ new nemesis, Ketel Marte, hit a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run home run.

The D-backs put up another three spot in the second inning, courtesy of a hit barrage by Ahmed, Dyson, Jay, and Goldschmidt.

Arizona cooled off a bit in the 3^rd inning while only pushing two runs across on an Avila home run to right center.

Steven Brault came into relieve Kuhl after the two run shot and helped stop the bleeding as well as earn Pittsburgh their first moral victories of the day (retiring Jon Jay and Ketel Marte).

The Pirates’ bats proved they had a pulse in the 4^th inning when Francisco Cervelli delivered an RBI single, scoring Marte.

Pittsburgh struck again in the 6^th inning after another Austin Meadows single, an RBI double by Marte, and finally a sacrifice fly by Moran. Unfortunately, this concluded Pittsburgh’s scoring on the day.

The D-backs were able to push one more run across in the top of the 9^th inning when Avila doubled in Ketel Marte, who had reached on an SROD throwing error. Final score: D-backs 9, Pirates 3

Godley(8-5) earned his third straight win while Kuhl(5-5) suffered the well deserved loss.

Pittsburgh will look to even the series up tomorrow as Ivan Nova takes the hill against Patrick Corbin. Game time is 7:05pm.