Javier Vazquez sparks as Florida Marlins defeat Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 - MLB Update
Florida Marlins’ starter, Javier Vazquez had a tremendous day with the ball as he threw six innings and struck-out seven batters with an ERA of 4.13 in the Marlins’ 4-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Pittsburgh on September 11.
In the first four innings, the batters seemed immobilised and were unable to post runs. Omar Infante hit a single-run shot towards centre-field but Emilio Bonifacio ground out, Greg Dobbs flied out and Gaby Sanchez got out to second base without taking runs
in the first inning. Similarly, Pirates’ catcher Ryan Doumit walked and Josh Harrison stole second base at the bottom of second inning but James McDonald struck-out and Derrek Lee flied out.
Sanchez walked in the fourth inning but Ben Petersen and Matt Dominguez both struck-out swinging and Brett Hayes ground out without adding even a single run. In the fifth inning, Marlins’ batters blasted four quick runs to get a 4-0 lead. Greg Dobbs hit
a double-run shot to deep right-field and Vazquez scored the first run.
The second run was taken by Dobbs when Sanchez bunted a single-run drive to left-field. Then, Petersen and Sanchez both scored two consecutive runs to end the four-run campaign for the Marlins when Donnie Murphy doubled to deep centre-field. The pitchers
were dominated again during sixth inning and did not gift any run.
Vazquez gave up only three hits and two walks without any run on his 113 pitches. “I've been healthy and I've tried to be consistent in what I do. I'm throwing more strikes, pounding the strike zone and going after the hitters.”
Marlins’ manager, Jack McKeon said, “I hope our pitchers were watching because he wouldn't have scored if he hadn't taken off with the pitch. Because they're pitchers they think, 'Ah, we're not supposed to run hard.' Well, if you don't get people out then
you better run hard.”
At the bottom of seventh inning, Harrison scored the first and final run for Pirates to reduce their lead 4-1 when Jason Jaramillo hit a single-run drive towards centre-field. Pirates’ batters were unable to take runs during eighth inning when Dominguez
walked but Murphy and Hayes flied out while Jeff Baker ground out to first base.
Consequently, Marlins swept the Pirates 3-0 in the three-game series played at PNC Park.
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