Maybe this really is the Pirates’ year.
All-Star Game snub James McDonald won Wednesday despite surrendering six runs to the Rockies in five innings at Coors Field. The Pirates knocked Jeremy Guthrie around for six runs in the first three innings and scored three more times in the fifth in a 9-6 victory.
McDonald became the first Pirates pitcher since Paul Maholm on Aug. 18, 2007 to give up six runs in a victory. It had happened just three times since 2000, with Josh Fogg (June 14, 2003 against the Rays) and Kris Benson (May 26, 2004) also accomplishing the feat.
McDonald opened the season with a stretch of 14 straight starts in which he allowed three runs or less, and he entered the All-Star break 9-3 with a 2.37 ERA. He’s struggled in back-to-back outings since, allowing 11 runs -- 10 earned -- in 9 2/3 innings.