Both starters Saturday night struggled to command their pitches. With R.A. Dickey, the Atlanta Braves knuckleballer, such issues are expected. Not as much from Chad Kuhl, but the Pirates took enough advantage of Dickey to win, 6-4, at PNC Park.
Kuhl walked six batters in five innings, though two of them were intentional free passes to No. 8 hitter Kurt Suzuki. He allowed three runs, two of them earned, and five hits. Kuhl recorded 15 outs and put 12 men on base. He also struck out five, including Freddie Freeman and Ender Inciarte twice apiece.
Three double plays, two of which ended innings that featured multiple baserunners, kept Kuhl’s final line in check.