Brandon McCarthy's second start for Arizona was another shaky affair, allowing nine hits and two walks in 6.2 innings, with three strikeouts. Only four of the six runs allowed were earned, and he finished strongly, retiring nine of the last ten batters faced, but his ERA is currently over eight, not what we wanted to see. Most of the damage came in the fourth, after a lead-off error by Jason Kubel in right field: a walk and four hits followed, as the Pirates turned a three-run deficit into a two-run lead.
The Diamondbacks enjoyed the first inning immensely, scoring four times. Miguel Montero doubled home two runs, and Kubel homered to deep left. However, much as last night, the offense failed to show up for the rest of the evening, getting three hits in the final eight innings, the same as they managed in the opening frame. Gerardo Parra had a hit and two walks at the top of the order; Aaron Hill walked twice, and Kubel had a walk in addition to his homer.
The loss drops Arizona to 5-3, and they'll try to avoid the sweep in tomorrow afternoon's matinee, with Wade Miley taking on Jonathan Sanchez. BattleMoses will be along with your full recap a little later.