Pirates Score 14 In Most Lopsided Win Of Season

Four different Pirates went deep Thursday as the Bucs avoided the sweep in a 14-6 victory over the Rockies.

After being outscored 14-3 in the first two games of the series, the offense broke out and put the Pirates on the right side of a blowout. It’s the first time the Pirates have won by more than five in 2019.

Gregory Polanco was the first of the four to go deep and it was the longest of the day, traveling 436 feet, bouncing off the river walk in right-center.

That would be just the first two of four runs scored by the Pirates in the first, with the others coming on a Melky Cabrera double and a Colin Moran base hit. Moran picked up another RBI in the third before starter Jordan Lyles helped his own cause with a two run single to make it 7-0 Pirates.

Josh Bell extended the lead to eight with a hard hit single on a 3-0 count, plating Starling Marte. That would chase Antonio Senzatela (3-4) after 3.1 innings. He had nine hits and three walks on his ledger.

Lyles (5-1) got in a groove where he retired 14 straight but ran into trouble in the sixth. With two outs, the Rockies strung together four straight singles, ending his afternoon after 5.2 innings. Geoff Hartlieb allowed both inherited runners to score on top of that, leaving Lyles with all six runs charged to him.

“Plenty of chances to get out of that sixth,” Lyles said. “Things unraveled. Tough one to swallow.”

Lyles struck out six, walked one and allowed seven hits.

Bell got one of those runs back to open the seventh, going deep to center for his 16th home run of the season. The Pirates’ first baseman stayed red hot Thursday, going 3-2 with a home run, a double and a walk with 3 runs and 2 RBI.

Bryan Reynolds and Starling Marte also got in on the fun with two outs later that inning, with Reynolds coming off the bench for a pinch-hit three run jack and Marte pulling it down the line in left for a two run shot.

Kyle Crick, Francisco Liriano and Montana DuRapau each tossed a scoreless inning to close out the game.

On Deck

The Pirates will welcome the Dodgers to PNC Park for a three game set starting Friday. Los Angeles will start Walker Buehler (4-1, 3.83). Clint Hurdle will announce the Pirates’ starter Friday.

NUMB3RS

1. This is the first time the Pirates scored 14 in a game since they won 14-3 against the Reds on Apr. 6, 2018.

2. Marte’s home run had an exit velocity of 110.3 MPH. That’s the highest out of any batted ball that resulted in a hit for him this year.

3. Bell is the only player in baseball with at least 15 home runs and 15 doubles.