The Pittsburgh Pirates played an ugly 3-game series against the Atlanta Braves, resulting in 2 losses, one blowout and one full of blown opportunities, as well as a dramatic walk off win on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Friday, May 21: Tim Hudson pitched his best game of the season so far, giving up only 3 hits through 8 innings in a shutout performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Only two Buccos had hits, Garrett Jones and Bobby Crosby had a pair of knocks a piece, but the rest of the offense was completely absent, and the Pirates never really had a chance in this, the opening game of the series.
The Braves, on the other hand, got plenty of offense on Friday. Jason Heyward led the charge for Atlanta, going 3-4 with 1 HR and 3 RBI. Brian McCann also added 2 hits, including a solo homerun in the 7th inning, notching the last of the Braves’ 7 runs. Buccos’ starter Ross Ohlendorf fell to 0-2 on the season, lasting only 3.2 innings, while giving up 6 runs on 7 hits, inflating his ERA to 5.30.
Saturday, May 22: The Pirates, more or less, defeated themselves in the 2nd game of their series against the Braves. The Buccos notched 9 hits as a team, but only scored 2 runs in the game, which included leaving a disgusted 14 on base. Lastings Milledge had a fine game, going 3-5 with an RBI, while Ryan Church also added a trio of hits. Unfortunately, timely hitting was non-existent on this evening, as the Pirates were only able to tally a pair of runs in the 4th inning.
Charlie Morton fell to a horrendous 1-8 on the season, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits while also issuing 3 walks. His mound opponent, Derek Lowe, improved his record to 6-4, lasting only 5 innings but lowering his ERA to 5.30, which proved to be good enough for the Braves’ bats to put the Pirates away 4-2. The Buccos would enter the final game of the series trying to avoid a sweep in front of their home crowd.
Sunday, May 23: The Pirates' problem of leaving too many people on base continued on Sunday, as they notched 11 more runners stranded, but they were able to tally 11 hits, with the last one being the game winner. Ryan Doumit completed his 3-5 afternoon with a solo blast in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Pirates a much-needed win against the Braves. Doumit’s smash countered former Bucco Eric Hinske’s solo pinch hit round-tripper in the 8th, which tied the game at 2.
Bucco starter Zach Duke pitched a good, solid game. While giving up 7 hits, Duke battled his way through a tough Braves lineup without giving up an earned run. In addition to Doumit’s performance, Aki Iwamura and Andrew McCutchen also added a pair of hits.
The Pirates needed the win on Sunday more than perhaps any game so far this season. Our Buccos have battled their way through May, a month that has typically brought on absolute self-destruction in years past. They find themselves 6 games under the .500 mark with a HUGE series coming up against the Cincinnati Reds for a four game trip followed by another set with the Braves, this time at Turner Field.
Fans From The Stands Live Video: May 23 Pregame Show!
Fans From The Stands Live Video: May 23 Postgame Show!
Current Record: 19-25
And…As Always…Let’s Go Bucs!
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