Pittsburgh Pirates lose to Atlanta Braves 4-5 – MLB news
Pittsburgh Pirates were unable to live up to the expectations as they took a 4-5 loss against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, June 4 in Game 2 of their three match series of the 2013 Major League Baseball regular season.
Credit should be given to the Braves for executing their game plan to perfection as they secured narrow win against their National League rivals. It will not be wrong to say that the Braves used their home conditions superbly to create all sorts of problems
for the Pirates. After securing a comfortable 7-2 win in the opener, the Braves continued the good work on Tuesday to take an impassable 2-0 series. It will be interesting to see if they take advantage of their momentum to complete a deserving series sweep
against Pittsburgh.
Pirates, on the other hand, will be extremely disappointed with the outcome of the clash. After taking an embarrassing 2-7 loss in the opener, the Manager Clint Hurdle was expecting his men to turn things around to keep the series alive but sadly that did
not turn out to be the case.
“I was trying too hard to end it the first time I had a chance,” Andrelton Simmons said. “The last at-bat I was just trying to make sure I made good contact. I made the adjustment to go the other way and fortunately I did it.”
“It was weird,” Simmons said. “Seeing everybody run and chase me down was kind of an awkward feeling. I didn't know what to do.”
“You're looking at what you feel is your best matchup at the time and it didn't work out,” said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.
Pirates’ starting pitcher Jeff Locke had a decent time on the mound as he allowed just six hits and three runs in five plus innings. Striking out batters at regular intervals, he ensured his side stayed in the contest. Relief pitcher Mark Melancon, however,
was unable to control his nerves under pressure as he gave up the tie breaking single in the bottom of the ninth to take his first loss of the year.
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