Duke goes distance as Pirates take home opener, 7-0
Zach Duke pitched a complete-game gem, Freddy Sanchez doubled three times and Adam LaRoche and Ryan Doumit homered as the Pirates opened their 2009 home schedule in style with a 7-0 humbling of the Houston Astros this afternoon at PNC Park.
Duke raised his record to 2-0 by limiting Houston to four hits, striking out five and walking two for the first complete game by a Pirates pitcher in a home opener since John Candelaria did it in 1978.
Every player in the starting lineup, including Duke, had at least one hit as part of the Pirates' total of 14.
It marked just the third victory in the Pirates' past 16 home openers, the first since 2004. Overall, they are 71-52.
The Pirates leaped ahead in the first when Sanchez's double off the fence in right-center -- umpires ruled fan interference -- was followed by a flyout that moved him to third and Doumit's two-run single through the right side.
Sanchez started the five -run rally with a double in the third, too, this time down the third-base line. Nate McLouth singled him home and, one batter later, LaRoche sent a two-strike, 87-mph fastball just above the Clemente Wall for his second home run.
When Brandon Moss followed with a single off that same wall, Moehler was lifted because of a sprained right knee.
Tim Byrdak relieved and walked his first two batters before getting Duke to bounce into a forceout at home. With bases still loaded, Nyjer Morgan's grounder up the middle was muffed by shortstop Miguel Tejada and skipped into center for a two-run single that made it 6-0.
More here-
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09103/962556-100.stm
