Marte gives Bucs lucky 13
PITTSBURGH — Just about everyone got to share in this shutout.
Starling Marte’s single in the bottom of the 13th drove in Chris Stewart and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 Friday night.
The Phillies were kept scoreless by seven pitchers, marking the first time since at least 1914 — as far back as STATS could check — for that many Pittsburgh relievers to combine on a shutout.
“It was a wonderful game to watch,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
Even if it was one that ended exactly six hours after the scheduled 7:05 p.m. start.
A passing rainstorm delayed its start by 86 minutes and Marte finally ended it with a two-out chopper up the middle off Dustin McGowan (1-2). Backup catcher Stewart came around from second, beating Ben Revere’s throw from center to send the Phillies to their fourth consecutive defeat and move the Pirates into second place in the NL Central.
“I slid into home and I was excited,” said Stewart, the Pirates’ final available position player who reached via a one-out, pinch-hit single. “I couldn’t wait to get out there with Marty and celebrate.”
Jeff Locke, Arquimedes Caminero, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon, Jared Hughes, Rob Scahill and Antonio Bastardo (1-1) combined on Pittsburgh’s fifth shutout of the season and first that had lasted at least 13 innings at home since Aug. 29, 1914, according to information provided to the Pirates by the Elias Sports Bureau.
“It came down to one hit that found the hole with the man on base,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “It took a long time to get that, and we came up on the short end.”
Philadelphia’s first six pitchers combined for 11 scoreless innings, the first 5 2/3 coming from veteran Kevin Correia in his season debut.
