Charlie Morton is doing his part to ensure that the Pittsburgh Pirates end their 20-year playoff drought. Morton won his fourth consecutive decision, a career best, pitching seven strong innings to help the Pirates retake the NL Central lead with a 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. "I was executing pitches and going out and trying to attack guys," Morton said. "I was able to throw different pitches in the zone." Morton (7-3) gave up seven hits and one earned run. He walked two and struck out six while winning his fourth straight decision. He added a base hit, his first two sacrifice bunts of the season and scored a run for good measure. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Morton turned in a "blue-collar effort" for his club, which improved to 23 games over .500 and is now just one win away from breaking a two-decade long streak of losing seasons. "Charlie has gotten to a very good place," Hurdle said. "He was efficient but he had to work today except for the sixth, when he blew them away." Source: ESPN
