Gerrit Cole stymies Diamondbacks as Pirates take series opener
Right-hander Gerrit Cole shut down the Diamondbacks for 7 2/3 innings, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-1, series-opening win on Friday night at Chase Field.
Cole found the strike zone often – with 78 of his 108 pitches, to be exact – and was doing it with dominating stuff that included a fastball up to 98 mph and a slider in the mid-to-upper 80s.
The Diamondbacks only had a handful of opportunities to score against him, with perhaps their best chance coming in the third, when they had 1B Paul Goldschmidt at the plate with two out and runners on the corners.
But Cole attacked Goldschmidt with fastballs, throwing two past him at 97 mph before inducing a grounder to short on a 96 mph offering.
"He uses his fastball really well," Goldschmidt said. "But then he mixed it up with his other three pitches. Probably the main thing is, he established his fastball on both sides of the plate and was throwing a lot of strikes."
Said RF Mark Trumbo: "His fastball actually got stronger as the game went on. It's a hard, boring one. It gets in on right-handers quite a bit and stays off the sweet part of the bat, at least. And a real good slider, a good swing-and-miss pitch late in the count."
Strong finish
Collmenter might have been hurt by his defense in the first inning. With a runner on second and one out, Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen hit a routine fly ball to RF Mark Trumbo, who caught the ball flat-footed, allowing the runner, RF Gregory Polanco, to tag and move to third.
The next batter, 2B Neil Walker, grounded a single through the right side, and Polanco trotted home with the first run of the night.
In the second inning, Collmenter probably wishes he could have back a two-strike fastball to Cole, who shot a single through the right side, setting the stage for 2B Josh Harrison's two-run double to make it 3-0.
"Early on, all the pitches were probably belt high," Collmenter said, "and that's exactly where everyone wants them."
Still, Collmenter managed to retire the side in order in the third through sixth innings, departing after Starling Marte opened the seventh with a double to left.
New record holder
RHP Brad Ziegler entered with one out in the seventh and proceeded to do what he normally does – pitch effectively. He got C Francisco Cervelli to fly to center and, after an intentional walk, got Cole to bounce softly to third.
It was the 253rd appearance of Ziegler's career with the Diamondbacks, tying him with Jose Valverde for the most in club history.
Ziegler joined the Diamondbacks at the trade deadline in 2011. Valverde pitched parts of five seasons with the team from 2003 to 2007.
On the board
The Diamondbacks scored their lone run off Cole in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of a weak throw from Walker and getting a good slide into home from 1B Paul Goldschmidt.
With runners on first and second, Walker made a diving stop up the middle on a ball hit by 2B Chris Owings. Goldschmidt rounded third and headed home and Walker made a hurried, two-hop throw to the plate.
Goldschmidt and the ball reached home plate at about the same time, and Goldschmidt slid around the lunging Cervelli.
Saturday's game
Pirates at Diamondbacks
When: 5:10 p.m.
Where: Chase Field (602-462-6262).
Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Rubby De La Rosa (2-1, 6.00) vs. Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (0-1, 2.00).
TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KSUN-AM (1400).
Update: De La Rosa is coming off his first loss of the season after giving up three runs through 6 2/3 innings of work against the Giants. … San Francisco's nine hits that game were the most De La Rosa has allowed this season. … He's issued two or fewer walks in all three of his appearances. … Burnett has yet to earn a win despite scattering four runs amid three starts. … In his last outing, Burnett went six innings and limited the Cubs to one run on eight hits. … He pitched eight scoreless innings for the win in his only appearance against the Diamondbacks last season.
Coming up
Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.58) vs. Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano (0-1, 3.00).
Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Chase Anderson (0-0, 3.00) vs. Rockies RHP Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 6.85).
Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Archie Bradley (2-0, 1.45) vs. Rockies Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.92).