PHILADELPHIA -- It started a lot better than it ended for the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park Saturday afternoon.
Sean Rodriguez, inserted into the leadoff spot, opened the game with an opposite-field home run off of Phillies starter Aaron Nola. Nola would settle in after the initial shock, and strike out 9 batters en route to a 7-inning, 2-run performance, helping sink the Pirates in a 6-2 win by the Phillies before 28,161 fans.
Pirates lefty Steven Brault seemed game to match his counterpart through five innings, throwing up zeros before running into trouble in the sixth inning.