Friday, August 08, 2014

Volquez dominates Marlins

By John Perrotto
August 7, 2014
Edinson Volquez improved to 9-7 and lowered his ERA to 3.70 in the Pirates' 7-2 win yesterday. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Edinson Volquez continued his mastery of the Marlins, allowing one hit in seven scoreless innings, and rookie Gregory Polanco drove in four runs in the Pirates’ 7-2 victory Thursday night at PNC Park.
The lone hit off Volquez was a fifth-inning single by Donovan Solano, who was subbing for slumping third baseman Casey McGehee.
The right-hander improved to 6-0 with a 1.64 ERA in seven career starts against the Marlins. He struck out seven and walked three as he won for the first time in four starts since the All-Star break after winning his last four starts of the first half.
The Pirates remained 1 ½ games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.
KEY MOMENT
Polanco’s two-run single capped a three-run fourth inning that put the Pirates ahead 3-0, which turned out to be plenty of breathing room for Volquez.
STAR OF THE GAME
Volquez struck out seven and walked three while stifling the Marlins.
HIDDEN STAT
8: The Pirates have won eight of their last nine games against the Marlins at PNC Park.
NOTEWORTHY
-- Center fielder Andrew McCutchen missed his third straight game with a fracture in his lower left ribcage. Manager Clint Hurdle said there is “a chance” McCutchen could still avoid going on the disabled list.
-- Second baseman Neil Walker sat out for the fourth time in five games because of lower back tightness. He felt better after getting treatment prior to Thursday night’s game but likely won’t return to the lineup until Saturday.
-- Third baseman Pedro Alvarez is expected to rejoin the team Friday night. He missed his third straight game while on the bereavement list to attend the funeral of his wife’s grandmother.
-- Infielder Clint Barmes, on the disabled list since June 30 with a left groin strain, will likely go on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues sometime next week. The last step in his rehab before being cleared to play in games is to be able to run the bases without pain and he will attempt that sometime this weekend.
--Third baseman Josh Harrison extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games with a fifth-inning single. He is 21 for 49 (.429) during the streak, lifting his batting average to .308.
-- Catcher Russell Martin ran hit hitting streak to six games by going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. He is 8- for 22 (.364) with seven RBIs and six runs scored during the streak while raising his batting average to .286.
UP NEXT
The Pirates open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at 7:05 tonight at PNC Park with Vance Worley (4-1, 2.43) starting for the Bucs against Ian Kennedy (8-9, 3.59).
Worley is 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA in his last three starts and has won both career starts against the Padres with a 2.08 ERA.
Kennedy is 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA in his last six starts and 3-2 with a 3.98 ERA in seven career starts against the Pirates.

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