Rain puts damper on Pirates
PITTSBURGH – Jake Westbrook still hasn’t figured out the Pittsburgh Pirates.
For a day anyway, it didn’t matter.
Pittsburgh roughed up the St. Louis Cardinals veteran righthander with four first-inning runs on Tuesday, but a violent thunderstorm storm hit at the end of the second inning and the game was called following a delay of 1 hour, 24 minutes with the Pirates leading 4-2. No makeup date was immediately announced.
Westbrook began the night looking for his 100th career win facing a team he is just 1-7 against. Those numbers didn’t appear to get any better after the Pirates turned five consecutive singles into four runs.
The cancellation Westbrook to reset his ERA to this season 0.00 and buy him some time to get a handle on the Pirates.
“It was just one of those things that I wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be,” Westbrook said.
Westbrook added it’s a little strange his nemesis is a team that isn’t exactly known for its firepower.
“I wish I could put my finger on it,” he said. “I think I had this conversation last year … it’s not like we don’t face these guys again. I’ve got to do my work to figure out what I need to do to get these guys out. I’ve got to make better pitches.”
Manager Mike Matheny said there are no plans to alter the rotation despite the cancellation. Westbrook’s next scheduled start is Sunday in Philadelphia. After that Westbrook would face the Pirates in St. Louis on April 27.
Pittsburgh starter Jonathan Sanchez – who came in with a 12.96 ERA – allowed two runs in the first inning but retired the side in order in the second.
Matt Holliday had an RBI single for St. Louis. Garrett Jones, Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez all had RBI singles for Pittsburgh. None of it will count, however, and the game will be replayed in its entirety.
Gallardo arrested: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo was arrested on a drunken-driving charge Tuesday after authorities say he was driving on a city highway with a blood-alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit.
Hanrahan goes on DL: The Boston Red Sox have placed closer Joel Hanrahan on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right hamstring.