CHICAGO -- The Pirates are running out of time. A powerful first inning proved they know it.
Before White Sox starter Sean Burke could record an out on Tuesday, the Pirates tallied five runs on six hits, squaring up Burke at exit velocities of 99 mph or higher five times. Pittsburgh’s offensive outburst led to a dominant 9-3 win over Chicago to start a pivotal six-game road trip.
When the damage was done, and 20 minutes had passed, Burke was at 37 pitches as the White Sox bullpen began to loosen. Boos poured down at Rate Field after nearly every hard-hit ball into the outfield.
Burke’s day eventually ended after recording just one out in the second inning, when Esmerlyn Valdez walked to load the bases. Chicago brought in the left-hander Tyler Schweitzer, but Pittsburgh kept hitting. Spencer Horwitz ripped Schweitzer’s first pitch to center field for two more runs.
Pirates players were 9-for-19 against Burke entering the game. They exited having boosted those numbers even further, going 8-for-11.
Bubba Chandler had plenty of cushion to play with once he took the mound. The rookie didn’t need much. Chandler cruised through the first four frames with perfection while touching 100 mph and striking out seven.
The White Sox entered Tuesday with the sixth most runs in baseball. Yet Chandler decimated Chicago’s lineup until Andrew Benintendi doubled to lead off the fifth. Braden Montgomery singled two batters later to get on the scoreboard. Kyle Teel added another on a solo shot in the sixth, but Chandler did more than enough to put Pittsburgh in winning position with the lofty lead.