Final
Pirates forge split with Braves, end memorable series
Jul 29, 2011 - 4:02 AMVideo
Correia (12-8) endured a 47-minute rain delay and surrendered just two runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. He added an RBI single.
The Pirates were coming off a pair of extra-inning losses, including a 19- inning affair on Tuesday that resulted in Jerry Meals' blown call at home that handed Atlanta a 4-3 win.
"It's tough to go on the road in a four-game series and get more than two," Correia said. "It could have been worse and it could have been better, but I think we hung in there for what we had to deal with. Obviously, they had the same thing. To come out with two at least, that's kind of what you're expected to do when you play a good team on the road."
Joel Hanrahan recorded the final four outs, and worked around a David Ross double in the ninth to record his 30th save of the season.
McCutchen went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs, as the Pirates forced a series split.
Derek Lowe (6-9) was affected by the rain, allowing two of his three earned runs post-delay. He gave up eight hits and walked three over five full frames.
Dan Uggla extended his hit streak to 19 games and Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 and scored a run in the loss.
Nate McLouth began home first with a walk, advanced to third on Freeman's single and crossed the plate on Eric Hinske's two-out, ground-rule double to right.
The Pirates answered a half-inning later, as Lyle Overbay drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on Michael McKenry's double and scored on Correia's bloop shot over the outstretched glove of Alex Gonzalez.
The score was still tied when the sky opened mid-fourth.
After the delay, the 38-year-old Lowe appeared stiff, and the Pirates capitalized, taking a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth.
Xavier Paul and Garrett Jones began the frame with consecutive singles before McCutchen belted a double to plate Paul. After a Neil Walker flyout, Pedro Alvarez hit a grounder up the first base line. Freeman made a nice play reaching to his left to get Alvarez, but Jones scored.
"It was three mistakes pretty fast there in the fifth inning," Lowe said. "They were only able to score two runs. Obviously they could have scored more, but still there were a lot of hard hit balls and a lot of mistakes."
In the sixth, with Freeman on second, Uggla hit a grounder to short. Ronny Cedeno, who made a great over-the-shoulder catch in the second while colliding with Paul, fielded the ball cleanly but made an errant throw to first, allowing Freeman to cross the plate.
The Braves had chances to tie. In the seventh Chipper Jones pinch hit with a man on first and ripped a sharp grounder towards third, but Alvarez made a great diving stop and turned the 6-4-3 double play. In the eighth Freeman reached with a two-out single, but the hot-hitting Uggla popped out.
Steve Pearce drew a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth and McCtuchen followed with a homer to left-center, putting the nail in the Braves' coffin.
Game Notes
The Pirates are 48-0 this season when leading after eight innings...Prior to the game, the Braves recalled Anthony Varvaro from Triple-A Gwinnett. He threw two scoreless innings...McCutchen's home run produced the first runs for the Pirates off of the Atlanta bullpen in 21 innings...Freeman extended his hit streak to 12 games...Lowe suffered his first career loss against Pittsburgh. He was previously 10-0.
- PITTSBURGH: 5
ATLANTA: 2
Final
Jul 28 10:57 PM - Andrew McCutchen none-out, two-run Home Run (15) to left center scored Steve Pearce. Neil Walker due up.
Pirates 5, Braves 2 Top 9, 0 OutsJul 28 10:45 PM - Dan Uggla infield single to short. On the play, Ronny Cedeno throwing error scored Freddie Freeman with none out. Runner on first with none out and Eric Hinske due up.
Pirates 3, Braves 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsJul 28 9:45 PM - Pedro Alvarez groundout to first scored Garrett Jones with two out. On the play, Andrew McCutchen advances to third. Runner on third with two outs and Lyle Overbay due up.
Pirates 3, Braves 1 Top 5, 2 OutsJul 28 9:19 PM - Andrew McCutchen double to left scored Xavier Paul with none out. On the play, Garrett Jones advances to third. Runners on second and third with none out and Neil Walker due up.
Pirates 2, Braves 1 Top 5, 0 OutsJul 28 9:14 PM - Kevin Correia single to left scored Lyle Overbay with one out. On the play, Michael McKenry advances to third. Runners on first and third with one out and Xavier Paul due up.
Pirates 1, Braves 1 Top 2, 1 OutJul 28 7:42 PM - Eric Hinske ground-rule double to right scored Nate McLouth with two out. On the play, Freddie Freeman advances to third. Runners on second and third with two outs and David Ross due up.
Pirates 0, Braves 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsJul 28 7:31 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
ATLANTA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 28 7:10 PM
Related News
- 2023 Braves Season in Review: Raisel Iglesias Dec 26
- This Day in Braves History: Phil Niekro passes away Dec 26
- Christmas Day open thread Dec 25
- This Day in MLB History: December 25 Dec 25
- Christmas Eve open thread Dec 24
- This Day in Braves History: Milwaukee signs Rico Carty Dec 24
- This Day in Braves History: Milwaukee signs Rico Carey Dec 24
- Braves News: Holiday pause, season reviews, more Dec 24
- 2023 Minor league season in review: Luis De Avila Dec 23
- 2023 Braves Season in Review: Ozzie Albies Dec 23
- This Day in Braves History: J.D. Drew signs with Dodgers Dec 23
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 6 - Drew Maggi gets his moment Dec 23