Gerrit Cole and Pitching Keeping Pirates in the Race

We are approaching the All Star Break in the major league schedule, at the approximate halfway point of the season. On July 5th, the Pittsburgh Pirates played Game 81 and completed their first half with a 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in an interleague contest in Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole picked up the win for Pittsburgh, his 12th of the season.

Cole leads the majors with 12 wins and is having an outstanding season at 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 113 strikeouts. Cole allowed Cleveland to get off to a 3-0 lead, but then slammed the door, allowing just 5 hits in eight innings. Mark Melancon pitched the ninth inning and picked up his 27th save, tied with Minnesota’s Glen Perkins for the most in the majors.

The Pirate offense got off to a slow start this season but has recovered nicely. The Pirates pitching kept them from falling out of contention before Mother’s Day. The Pirates have three solid starters besides Cole in the starting rotation with A.J. Burnett (7-3, 2.05 ERA), Francisco Liriano (5-6, but a 2.99 ERA and 113 strikeouts), and Jeff Locke (5-4, 4.15). The pitching staff has a team ERA of 2.90, second beat in the majors behind the St. Louis Cardinals, coincidently the team the 2nd place Pirates are pursuing in the National League Central race. Through games of July 5th, the Pirates (47-34) are six games behind the Cardinals and are in the lead for a Wild Card if they fall short.