Pirates-Rays End Game In A Tie?

Photo by AP

by Zane Heiple

Well I guess the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays forgot to post their lineups for the shootout before the first pitch today, as their game ended in a 3-3 tie.  This is the only time of year where one can see a baseball game end like this and with the way the Buccos have been playing maybe this was for the best.

Pitching for Pittsburgh today was strictly done by bullpen and minor league players.  The bullpen grouping of Tony Watson, Jason Grilli and Chris Resop shutdown the bats of Tampa.  Watson and Grilli each pitched two scoreless innings, while Resop threw one shutout inning.  The Rays were able to get to Brad Lincoln in the seventh inning touching him up for three runs.  Tim Alderson then came in for the final two innings allowing zero runs on two hits.

Offensively for the Pirates Casey McGehee and Matt Hague led the way.  Each would go 2-4, with McGhee bringing one run home on a solo shot in the first and Hague bringing in two on a home run in the seventh.  Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker had a rough go of it at the plate going 0-4 each.

Always good to see some quality innings from the bullpen guys as I am sure they will be leaned upon heavily this season.  Pittsburgh will have a split squad game tomorrow.  One game will see Erik Bedard at home against the Baltimore Orioles, while the other will be against the Minnesota Twins on the road with Kevin Correia starting.  First pitch for both games is scheduled for 1:05.

Grapefruit League Record 8-17-1

And...

As Always...

Let's Go Bucs!

Pirates Outlast Astros In High-Scoring Affair

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit:  http://www.bucsdugout.com

The Pirates beat the Houston Astros this afternoon in a high scoring affair, 9-7.  With the win, the Bucs improved to 8-13 in Grapefruit League play.  The two teams combined for 16 runs on 30 hits.  Pitchers’ duel, anyone?

Brad Lincoln struggled today, surrendering three runs on four hits, including two homeruns, in his four innings of work.  His ERA this spring is at 10.50, and he hasn’t had the command or consistency we’ve been looking for, at least from the perspective of him perhaps becoming a member of the team’s starting pitching rotation.  I would argue he has all but solidified himself as a minor league player to start the season.  The only exception would be if he’s a long man out of the bullpen, but I think that’s even a long shot at this point. 

Chris Leroux also struggled today, giving up three runs on two hits and three walks in the seventh inning, while Jared Hughes got touched for a run on three hits in the eighth frame.  On a brighter note, though, Evan Meek was impressive today, tossing two scoreless innings.  He seems to look more comfortable each time out this spring, which is great news for the Bucs.

The Buccos brought the bats to the field today, tagging Astros’ pitching for nine runs on 20 hits.  Yamaico Navarro led the team with four hits, including a triple, while Garrett Jones added two RBI’s as well.  In all, five Pirates had multi-hit afternoons, including Clint Barmes, Casey McGehee, Rod Barajas, Navarro, and Nate McLouth.  It was nice to see the bats come alive.  One of the main points we’ve spoken of in regards to the Bucs’ success this year is the ability to score more runs.  They will need to give the pitching staff more support on a nightly basis, and while Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, etc. will be expected to contribute in massive amounts, the likes of McLouth, Barajas, and Barmes all represent significant pieces to that Pirates’ .500 puzzle.

A special note on Navarro here:  he has had a nice spring this year, and he may prove to be a very valuable asset to the team.  He’s been solid with both the bat and glove, but what may keep him up with the big club this year is his versatility and ability to play multiple positions.  He is able to play in the outfield or infield, and can pinch hit, as well as do platoon work or even spot starts in case of occasional maintenance scratches for players like McCutchen, Walker, etc.  We’ll see what happens, though, as players like Josh Harrison, Matt Hague, etc. are also making a strong case to start the season in Pittsburgh as well.

The Pirates will keep the Grapefruit League ball rolling tomorrow night under the lights against the Baltimore Orioles at McKechnie Field.  First pitch is slated for 7:05pm.

Grapefruit League Record:  8-13

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Late Game Comeback Drops Pirates Again

by Zane Heiple

Photo by Christopher Horner/Pittsburgh Tribune Review

While wins and losses aren't the true definition of a successful spring training, holding onto a lead and performance in those latter innings give an organization an idea of what kind of player they have.  While yesterday's loss was just an off day for Daniel McCutchen, today's game may have marked the end of the line for Ryota Igarahshi.  Igarahshi was brought in as a non-roster invitee to challenge for a spot in the bullpen.  After today's outing of not being able to hold a three run lead in the ninth inning, I feel his days with the Buccos are over.  The Houston Astros would cap the 5-4 win in the tenth inning over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Errors where also abundant today as Pittsburgh would commit three of them.  Maybe its just the surplus of players and not being comfortable with each other, but it seems like the Pirates have been committing a lot of them this spring.  It will be important to solve this problem come April 5th, since the Buccos are not a ball club that can give teams extra outs during an inning.

There were some good things that happened today as well.  Starting pitcher James McDonald went seven innings while striking out three batter while giving up one run on two hits.  Chris Resop would pitch a scoreless eighth inning and Daniel Moskos stopped the bleeding in the ninth by striking out two batters.

The offense looked good as well.  Josh Harrison went 2-4 to increase his average to .520.  Jose Tabata would go 2-4 and Garrett Jones hit his third home run of the spring. 

The Pirates will take the field on Sunday to battle the Astros once again.  Brad Lincoln will get his first start since March 7th when he had some calf tightness.  Lincoln looks to once again be a pitching option for the Pirates in case of injury or if a spot start is needed from a minor league player once the season begins.  First pitch is at 1:05.

Grapefruit League Record: 7-13

And...

As Always...

Let's Go Bucs!

Pirates Fall To Blue Jays In First Spring Training Game Of 2012

Photo Credit:  http://www.rumbunter.com

By Chad Carlson

Well that could’ve gone a little better. 

The Pirates opened up Grapefruit League play today with a 7-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida.

Brett Lawrie went 2-3 and had 4 RBI’s for Toronto, while seven of their eight pitchers tossed scoreless innings, giving up only a total of two hits to Pirates’ batters.

It was a tough day for the Bucs on both ends, only tallying two hits the entire afternoon.  Both knocks occurred in the same inning, though, resulting in the only run they’d score all day.  With two outs in the fifth, Gorkys Hernandez singled to right center, stole 2^nd base, and scored on Michael McKenry’s RBI single to right field.  Other than three walks, the two singles by Hernandez and McKenry were the virtually the only offense for the Pirates this afternoon.

Two of the new Pirates, Casey McGehee and Clint Barmes, combined to go 0-2, while Nate McLouth walked in the second inning.  Starling Marte had a double in the ninth inning in his only at-bat.

Overall, it was a disappointing performance by the Bucs’ pitching staff.  After a flawless first inning, starter James McDonald gave up two runs on hits and a walk in the second inning, while Chris Leroux and Daniel McCutchen gave up a run each in the fifth and seventh innings respectively.  However, after giving up a solo homerun in the sixth inning, LeRoux did strike out the side. 

Unfortunately, Tony Watson had the roughest day of all, giving up three runs on four hits in the sixth inning. 

Now the bright sides of the game:  Brad Lincoln, Chris Resop, and Ryota Igarashi each pitched an inning of scoreless ball.  With the injury to A.J. Burnett keeping him out at least two months, there is an opening to be filled, possibly by Lincoln?  We’ll see.  We’ve seen in the past that he has the ability to pitch extremely well, but the longevity and consistency of that quality pitching has been the issue.  Though it’s only an inning in one Spring Training game, it was still nice to see Lincoln pitch well today.

Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, and Rod Barajas sat out this afternoon, so we’ll have to wait at least another day to see them take their first official at-bats of Spring Training. 

First of all, Pirates' fans, calm down.  It's only one Spring Training game.  Despite the loss today, it’s incredibly exciting to be talking about Pirates’ baseball once again.  As with any Spring Training, this is always optimism from players and fans alike.  Considering the excitement during the first four months of the season last year in Pittsburgh, fans are looking for the team to take the next step and complete a solid season. 

The goal for this Spring Training is progress, in every sense of the word.  While it’s always nice to win games, a Grapefruit League record means absolutely nothing to me.  This is all about the little things right now on individual levels, micro levels.  How does Charlie Morton look in his inning or two of work, and how does Pedro Alvarez look in his pair plate appearances against left-handed pitching?  Keep these in mind as we watch and discuss Pirates’ baseball this Spring Training.

The Pirates and Blue Jays will meet again tomorrow afternoon, this time at McKechnie Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm.

Grapefruit League Record:  0-1

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Harrison Leads Bucs Past Reds 4-3

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Last night’s 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds marked the first time the Pirates won 70 or more games in season since 2004.  That being said, the Bucs need to finish the 2011 season against the Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers with a record of 3-2 to avoid a 90-loss season.

Tonight, the bats were working, Brad Lincoln gave a strong-willed performance, and the Bucs knocked off the Reds again by a score of 4-3 at PNC Park.

Josh Harrison had four hits to lead the Bucs past the Reds, assuring them of a losing season a year after they won the N.L. Central.

Lincoln struggled early tonight, giving up a run in the first inning.  Even the Reds’ outs were loud in the first handful of frames, but the Buccos’ right hander kept chipping away, finding ways to get outs and keep his team in the game.  He finished his five innings of work having given up two runs on six hits, while walking four and striking out four batters.

The bullpen, aside from Jose Veras, pitched scoreless baseball.  Jason Grilli gave Joel Hanrahan the night off, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

Harrison was the hitting star of the day, going 4-5 and was a homerun shy of hitting for the cycle.  Neil Walker had three hits and Jason Jaramillo added two, as the Bucs kept the Reds’ pitchers on edge throughout the night.  Andrew McCutchen was walked three times tonight, but record his 89^th RBI of the season on his sacrifice fly in the third inning.

It was a great night at PNC Park, as the Pirates played a well-received game by the nearly packed house.  While it’s certainly been and up-and-down year for the Bucs, it’s nice to see them finish off their disappointing home schedule with a series victory.

They’ll go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon, as James McDonald will take the hill looking for his 10^th win of the season.  First pitch for the final game at PNC Park in 2011 is slated for 1:35pm.

Record Vs. Reds: 10-4

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 38-38

Record At Home: 36-44

Overall Record: 71-87

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Pirates Crushed by Dodgers

By Zane Heiple

Photo by Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates were dominated today by the Los Angeles Dodgers today in the finale of their four game series.  Since nothing went well for Pittsburgh, I thought instead of giving you the reader a written analysis of the game, I would do a “By The Numbers” piece to show just how Los Angeles outplayed the Pirates.  Since the Buccos lost by two touchdowns, here are fourteen reasons for the defeat and what came because of it.

1 – Number of runs scored by Pittsburgh in a 15-1 defeat by the Dodgers.

2 – The inning in which Brad Lincoln was pulled from the game, as he would only last 1.2 innings on the day, giving up six runs on eight hits.

3 – Total bases that Dee Gordon would collect on the first hit of the game for Los Angeles.

4 – Amount of hits Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley would allow in his five innings of work.

5 – Hits by LA first baseman James Loney, who would go 5 for 6 with three RBI and two runs on the day.

6 – Hits allowed by reliever Daniel McCutchen in 1.1 innings of work.

7 – Total hits by the Pirates offense in 34 at bats.

8 – Number of pitchers the Buccos used during the game in eight innings of work.

9 – Strikeouts combined by the four LA pitchers used in the game.

10 – Men left on base by the Pittsburgh starters

11 – Number of strikes thrown by Evan Meek out of the thirty pitches he threw in 0.2 innings of work.

12 – Amount of losses in the Pirates last 18 games.

13 – Batters faced by Lincoln when he left the game with two outs in the second inning.

14 – RBI on the season for Jamey Carroll after he knocked in the first run of the game on a ground out.

Well they say that numbers don’t lie and these numbers tell the story of today’s game.  The Buccos will now head to the desert for a three game set with the N.L. West leading Arizona Diamondbacks.  Tomorrow’s game will begin at 9:40pm and feature Jeff Karstens going up against Ian Kennedy.

Record vs. Dodgers:  2-6
Record vs. N.L. West:  12-18
Record on the Road:  34-41
Overall Record:  68-85

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Ciriaco Two Run Double Carries Pirates Over Cardinals

by Zane Heiple

Photo by Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates battled back and forth all night with the St. Louis Cardinals, and in the end it was the Buccos that came out on top with a 6-5 win.  Brad Lincoln got the start for Pittsburgh tonight and was ok during his 5.1 innings on the mound.  He would give up three earned runs on four hits while striking out one batter and walking two.  The Pirates bullpen was once again consistent as Jason Grilli would pick up his second win of the season, while Joel Hanrahan collected his 37^th save of the year, even though he gave up a run during his ninth inning appearance.

St. Louis starter Kyle Lohse left the game after six innings of work with his team holding a 4-3 lead, but the Cardinals bullpen would falter in the eighth inning.  Former Pirate Octavio Dotel gave up the tying run when Ryan Doumit would double home Chase d’ Arnaud.  Marc Rzepczynski relieved Dotel and earned his fourth blown save of the year and collected the loss.  Rzepczynski intentionally walked Ryan Ludwick, struck out Josh Harrison, and then walked Jason Jaramillo to load the bases with two outs for Pedro Ciriaco.  Ciriaco then would hit a line drive to right field to score Doumit and Ludwick for what would be the win.

After a very sluggish series against the Florida Marlins the Pirates offense came through in clutch situations to keep their team in the game and ultimately pick up the win.  The Pirates starting lineup collected nine of the ten hits tonight, where as two nights ago they only had one.  Game two of this three game series will take place tomorrow night at 7:05pm.  Chris Carpenter will go for St. Louis while the Pirates will counter with Jeff Karstens.

Record vs. Cardinals:  7-7
Record vs. N.L. Central:  35-36
Record at PNC Park:  34-42
Overall Record:  67-80

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Myers, Astros Beat Pirates At Rainy PNC Park

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: AP

The Pirates faced off against the Astros in game two of their series tonight at PNC Park with six new faces in uniform.  Among others, Pedro Alvarez was back in Pittsburgh, and in the starting lineup, as the Bucs looked to take the second game, and clinch the series, against an Astros’ team that swept them at Minute Maid Park a week ago.

Brett Myers has been having a rough year for Houston, with a 3-13 record and a 4.81 ERA coming into tonight’s game.  Of course, as we’ve seen in the past, these types of situations always seem to bite the Pirates, and that’s exactly what happened tonight.  Myers pitched a spectacular game, giving up just one run on four hits through 7.2 innings, as the Astros outlasted the Bucs 4-1 in a frustrating game at PNC Park.

Despite the loss, Pittsburgh starter Brad Lincoln had another solid start, giving up just two runs on five hits through six innings.  The Pirates used a total of six pitchers tonight, all of which threw scoreless baseball with the exception of Jose Veras, who gave up a very costly pair in the ninth.

The Astros took the lead in the second inning with a pair of runs off Lincoln.  Carlos Lee led off with a single, stole second, and scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Jimmy Paredes.  Humberto Quintero’s double in the right center field gap scored Paredes, and the Astros led 2-0.

Pittsburgh cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the second.  Neil Walker smacked a one-out single, and was thrown out while trying to steal second.  On the very next pitch, Ryan Doumit hammered a solo homerun to deep right center field, getting the Bucs on the board at 2-1.

Both teams squandered opportunities to score over the next several innings.  Houston stranded two runners in the top of the fourth, and the Pirates, after getting a leadoff double from Garrett Jones, were unable to score the tying run. 

The seventh inning proved to be the biggest flop for the Astros.  With runners on first and third and one out, Myers laid down a bunt that conveniently bounced back towards Chris Resop, who flipped it to Doumit, making a great tag on Paredes, who was trying to score.  Resop then struck out Jordan Schafer to end the threat.

Pittsburgh blew a huge opportunity of their own in the eighth inning.  With two outs, Josh Harrison hit a pinch-hit ground ball back to Myers, who wildly threw past first baseman Carlos Lee, allowing Harrison to move up to second.  Wesley Wright came in for Myers, who walked Alex Presley on four pitches and, after falling behind 2-0 to Jones, got the Pirates’ first baseman to fly out to shallow right field to end the inning.

The Astros opened things up in the ninth with two runs.  With runners on second and third and just one out, Quintero smashed a single into left centerfield, scoring two runs off Jose Veras and stretching Houston’s lead to 4-1.  Daniel Moskos, who was recalled earlier today, got the final two outs of the inning for Pittsburgh.

Other than a Derrek Lee single, the Pirates went peacefully in the ninth, as the Astros’ Mark Melancon earned his 17^th save of the season.

It’s tough to understand how the Astros continue to play well against Pittsburgh, having won four of the last five contests between the two teams.  The Pirates’ offense struggled tonight, accumulating only five hits total as a team, while Alex Presley, Garrett Jones, and Andrew McCutchen, the top three hitters in the lineup, went a combined 1-11, including an 0-4 performance from Cutch, who has seen his batting average drop to a mediocre .267.  Pedro Alvarez went 0-3 in his first game back, while Neil Walker had two hits in the losing effort.

The Pirates still have a chance to win this final series between the two teams tomorrow night at PNC Park.  Ryan Ludwick will be back in uniform, while Brian Burres will make the start on the hill.

Record Vs. Astros: 10-7

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 34-36

Record At Home: 32-39

Overall Record: 65-77

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Pirates Late Rally Falls Short Against Dodgers

by Zane Heiple

Photo By AP

The Pittsburgh Pirates returned to PNC Park for a one game home stand against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  This game was a make up for a rainout that occurred on May 12.  Brad Lincoln would start for the Pirates while the Dodgers sent Dana Eveland to the hill.  Eveland’s name may sound familiar to Buccos fans and that’s because he played in three games for Pittsburgh in 2010.  He was able to get the best of his former team going eight innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out three batters.  Lincoln had an alright day going six innings, striking out and walking three batters, while giving up three runs on six hits.

LA struck early scoring three runs in the first.  With the bases loaded and one out, Aaron Miles would single home Dee Gordon and Matt Kemp.  Tony Gwynn Jr. would then hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Andre Eithier.  The Pirates cut into that lead in the second inning when Josh Harrison hit into a double play that scored Ryan Doumit from third. 

The Dodgers would open up that lead with a run in the seventh when a passed ball scored James Loney.  They would add two more runs in the eighth on a Gordon double to right field.  Pittsburgh made a little bit of noise in the ninth.  Alex Presley hit a two run homer to cut the Los Angeles lead to three.  Neil Walker then brought home run number four with a sacrifice fly to right field.  That would be all the offense the Pirates could muster as Harrison and Brandon Wood would strikeout to end the game.

The Buccos will now hit the road for a three game series against the Chicago Cubs.  While they had success their earlier this season, Pittsburgh is in the midst of a five game losing streak and cannot seem to find a way to win a ball game.

Record vs. Dodgers:  1-3
Record vs. N.L. West:  11-15
Record at PNC Park:  31-38
Overall Record:  62-75

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Pirates Rip Carpenter, Cardinals 7-0

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: AP

After tough losses in the first pair of games at Busch Stadium, the Pirates entered this afternoon’s game against the Cardinals limping their way to the end of the month of August, which has been a brutal and devastating one for the Buccos.  Lance Berkman’s eighth inning homerun last night clinched the victory for the Cardinals, sending the Pirates to a season-high 17 games back in the N.L. Central.

Brad Lincoln took the hill for Pittsburgh tonight, looking for his victory of the season.  On the other side, his on-mound opponent, Chris Carpenter, was aiming to continue his dominance against Pittsburgh, coming into today’s game with a 12-2 career record against the Bucs.

The Pirates jumped on Carpenter and the Cards early and often, acquiring a huge lead and never letting up, beating the Red Birds in front of their home crowd this afternoon by a final score of 7-0.

Despite his impressive statistics in the past, Carpenter’s success against Pittsburgh didn’t continue today, as he was tagged for six runs on nine hits through five innings of work, inflating his ERA to 3.76 for the season.

The Pirates used some two-out magic to get on the board in the second inning.  Garrett Jones reached with a double, and Josh Harrison singled him home, giving the Bucs an early 1-0 lead.

Carpenter’s day would only worsen in the fourth inning, as he gave up four more runs.  Andrew McCutchen led off with a double, and later scored on an RBI double by Jones.  Harrison smacked another RBI single, scoring Jones along with Neil Walker, who reached base with a walk.  Even Lincoln got into the fun, smashing a two-out RBI double to left center, scoring Harrison.  Pittsburgh occupied a 5-0 advantage at the end of the fourth. 

Walker added to the lead in the fifth inning with a two-out solo homerun to center.  The round-tripper was his 11^th and his 76^th RBI of the season. 

McCutchen’s RBI single came with two outs in the sixth, scoring Lincoln, who led off the inning with a walk, giving the Pirates a 7-0 lead.

The Cardinals had an opportunity to get back in the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning.  After Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday hit back-to-back two-out singles, Berkman drew a walk to load the bases for Skip Schumaker.  After a long battle, Lincoln struck out the Red Birds’ second baseman to end the inning.

That ended the day for Lincoln, who finished his six innings without allowing a run to the top-hitting team in the National League, while also earning his first victory of the season and the second of his career.

Following the last two nights in which the Pirates were competitive but let it slip away in the latter innings, it was nice to see the offense take out some frustration on a divisional opponent.  While the Pirates’ post-season hopes are gone, they can still enjoy the experience of playing spoiler against teams like the Cardinals.

Garrett Jones and Josh Harrison led the way for Pittsburgh today, each tallying three hits while Harrison had 3 RBI’s.  Lincoln pitched a very strong game against a tough offense, making a strong argument for his case to be in the starting pitching rotation in 2012.

Pittsburgh will look to carry over the momentum from this victory to tomorrow’s game, as they will look to split this four game series with St. Louis.

Record Vs. Cardinals: 6-6

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 31-30

Record On The Road: 31-33

Overall Record: 62-70

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Pirates Take Game Two, End Skid Against Brewers

by Zane Heiple

Photo by Getty Images

After being beaten easily in game one of the doubleheader, the Pittsburgh Pirates had little time feel bad for themselves, as they only had 30 minutes to prepare for game two against the Milwaukee Brewers.  The pitching matchup in this game looked to heavily favor Milwaukee as they would send former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke to the mound to take Brad Lincoln, who was making only his second start of the season.

The Brewers did not wait long to get on the board as leadoff batter Corey Hart took the second pitch of the game deep to centerfield.  With one out Nyjer Morgan would score from third when Prince Fielder reached safely on a fielder’s choice.  Pittsburgh answered with a run of their own, when Neil Walker brought home Jose Tabata with a single to left field that cut the Brew Crew lead to only one run.  In the fourth inning, Ryan Doumit tied the game with a solo home run to right center field.

Lincoln held his own tonight against a very formidable Milwaukee lineup.  He would go six innings allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.  Daniel McCutchen would replace Lincoln in the seventh and keep the Brewers off the board in an inning of work. 

The bottom part of the inning saw the Pirates open up the offense.  It all started with a Garrett Jones single and Matt Diaz being hit by a pitch.  With two runners on, Josh Harrison hit an RBI double to shallow left field.  With one out Andrew McCutchen would pinch it for D-Cutch and walk on a wild pitch that scored Diaz from third.  Jose Tabata then doubled home Harrison, which would be followed up by a Xavier Paul single that scored Cutch.  Ryan Doumit kept the hitting going with a bases loaded single that brought home Tabata.  Jones was up again and brought home another run with a sacrifice fly to the warning track to right field.  With Diaz at the plate a wild pitch would bring home Walker to bring home run number seven of the inning and give the Buccos a 9-2 lead heading into the eighth inning.

Recently called up Chris Leroux, who took the place of Kevin Correia on the 25-man roster after he headed to the DL today, finished off the last two innings to give Pittsburgh their first win over the Brew Crew in 2011.  This was a huge win for the Pirates since Milwaukee has owned them over the past few seasons.  It was great to see the Buccos capitalize on another teams mistakes and come up with a big inning like they did during the seventh inning tonight.  That being said though, Pittsburgh has two more games left with Milwaukee in this series and they don’t want to let the Brewers gain any momentum back after this win.  Tomorrow’s game will begin at 7:05pm with the Brew Crew starting Marco Estrada and Pittsburgh sending Ross Ohlendorf to the mound for his first start since early April.

Record vs. Brewers:  1-9
Record vs. N.L. Central:  29-27
Record at PNC Park:  30-36
Overall Record:  60-67

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Reds Win Back And Forth Game Over Pirates

by Zane Heiple

Photo by Getty Images

The last time the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds met, both teams were battling for the top spot in the National League Central title.  That was in mid-July and things have changed quite a bit.  Now both teams seem to be in a battle for third place in the division as the Reds held a one game lead over the Buccos entering the start of this three game series.  Pittsburgh has played quite well against Cincinnati this year compiling a 7-2 record, so there was hope that the Pirates could lead over the Reds and possibly make up some ground on the St. Louis Cardinals for second and possibly move closer to that elusive .500 record. 

Kevin Correia took the ball for the Buccos on this night and while he has struggled at home this year looked pretty good the first time through the lineup.  The second time through however, Cincinnati would put two runs up on the scoreboard when Joey Votto hit a home run to deep centerfield. 

The Pirates were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Brandon Wood hit a sacrifice fly to score Andrew McCutchen.  Ronny Cedeno would tie the game with a RBI single to shallow centerfield.

The Reds did not take long to regain the lead, Ryan Hanigan hit a solo home run to left field.  Correia continued to give up the long ball as Brandon Phillips hit a three run shot to left field giving Cincinnati a 6-2 lead.  Pittsburgh did add a run in the bottom part of the inning on a sac fly by Neil Walker.  The Pirates would cut into the lead once again in the sixth inning with another run.

Correia would leave after six innings allowing six runs on eight hits with one K and one walk.  The bullpen would allow a run in the seventh, after Brad Lincoln got two outs, he would leave the game with runners on first and second.  Joe Beimel would give up a hit to shallow centerfield and then walk a hitter to load the bases before being pulled.

With the Pirates down three with two outs and runners on second and third, Wood doubled into left field to bring Pittsburgh to within one run.  Cincinnati then added a run in the eighth.  After Paul Janish reaced first on a missed call by the first base umpire, he would steal second and then score when Phillips hit into a fielder’s choice.

The Pirates battled back in the bottom part of the inning.  They would cut the Reds lead to one on a Garrett Jones double that scored Xavier Paul.  McCutchen then brought home Jose Tabata on a single to left.  With the game tied though, Pittsburgh would have two runners thrown out at home plate.

Things feel apart in the ninth for Joel Hanrahan as he gave up three runs in the ninth as the Reds would go on to win 11-8.  This was another one of those games where the offense shows up and the pitching has a poor outing.  Hopefully the Pirates can pull it together for a afternoon game that will be airing on FOX.

Record vs. Reds:  7-3
Record vs. N.L. Central:  27-25
Record at PNC Park:  28-34
Overall Record:  58-65

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Craig Hits Two HR's As Cardinals Avoid Sweep With 7-2 Victory

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: AP

The Pirates entered tonight’s game at PNC Park in search of a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.  As is the case with the better teams in the league, it would be no easy task to defeat the Cards in three straight games.  Additionally, the Cardinals needed to start playing catch-up immediately, as they had fallen seven games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

Paul Maholm continued his struggles against St. Louis tonight, as he was tagged for three runs on eight hits in five innings of work.  The Cardinals defeated the Pirates tonight at PNC Park by a final score of 7-2.

The Cardinals jumped on the board early tonight against Paul Maholm.  In fact, the first four batters reached base, including Allen Craig, who blasted a two run homerun to deep center field.  Yadier Molina also singled in the inning, driving home Matt Holliday.  St. Louis led 3-0 before the Pirates even came to the plate.

Pittsburgh battled back to make it interesting in the fifth inning, as Jose Tabata smashed a two-run homerun to right center field, scoring Ronny Cedeno from second base. 

Unfortunately, that was as close as the Pirates would get, as the Cardinals added a runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to break the game wide open.  Craig hit his second homerun of the game in the seventh inning, and Lance Berkman added a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth, stretching the lead to 7-2, which would eventually be the final.

The Pirates did not play well tonight at all.  It’s awfully frustrating, especially considering how well they played the previous two games, and the fact that they were going for a sweep of an N.L. Central divisional foe.

Mental mistakes and errors certainly hurt the Bucs tonight.  After getting behind early, they couldn’t afford to make these types of mistakes and expect to come back.

Ronny Cedeno’s mistake in the sixth was particularly aggravating.  With runners on first and second and one out, the Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse hit a ground ball at Cedeno, who was playing in for that exact reason.  Rather than throwing the ball home to save a run, Ronny took a quick look toward Ryan Doumit before tossing the ball over to Jones for the out.  The Cardinals scored, adding another run to their lead.  Garrett Jones and Brandon Wood each had errors as well. 

The first inning seemed to set the tone for the entire night.  After the Cardinals scored three runs to take the early advantage, the Buccos put runners on first and second with one out, and later had the bases loaded with two outs. Doumit and Ryan Ludwick couldn’t deliver, and the Pirates ended the inning empty-handed.

The bullpen didn’t fair too well tonight either.  Brad Lincoln gave up two runs on three hits in two innings, while Daniel McCutchen surrendered two runs in one inning of work.

Kyle Lohse pitched a nice game for the Cardinals, limiting the Pirates to two runs on five hits through his seven innings, while the bullpen held the Bucs in check in the eighth and ninth innings.

Pittsburgh has the day off tomorrow before opening up a series against the Cincinnati Reds this weekend.  Saturday’s game will be televised on Fox, and Fans From The Stands will be in attendance.

Record Vs. Cardinals: 5-4

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 27-24

Record At Home: 28-33

Overall Record: 58-64

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Meet Your Bucs: Brad Lincoln

by Zane Heiple.

Photo by zimbio.com

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a move on Saturday to help strengthen a weak and tired bullpen.  The Pirates called up Brad Lincoln for the second time this season.  Lincoln’s role this time won’t be to make a spot start, as he did on July 2^nd of this year, but to help a bullpen that had pitched 65.1 innings and allowed 32 runs in the sixteen previous game before Sunday.  In order for Brad to claim a spot on the 25-man roster, Tony Watson was sent back to AAA Indianapolis.

Lincoln was drafted by the Pirates with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 draft.  Injuries quickly took a toll on his early work with the Pirates.  An oblique strain in 2006 and then Tommy John Surgery in 2007 prevented him from moving up through the organization quickly.  However, once healthy, he moved through four levels of minor league baseball in a little over one season. 

His Major League debut came on June 9, 2010 against the Washington Nationals.  His debut was less than spectacular as he would go six innings allowing five runs and walking two while striking out three.  He remained with the Buccos until July 25 of the 2010 season when he lost his fourth game of the season.  General Manager Neal Huntington cited a change in mechanics were the reason for his struggles. He would not return to the Majors until July 2 of this year.  His excellent start was overshadowed due to the bullpen not being able to hold a lead.

While his time with the Pirates has been short he has posted a 1-4 record with a 6.53 ERA in 10 starts.  Scouts say that his potential will probably be that of a third man in the rotation, which is a tough pill to swallow for fans considering that he was a overall number four pick in the draft.  His minor league numbers are a little better overall as he posted a 28-32 record in five seasons with a 4.07 ERA 379 K’s and 97 walks.

Meet Your Bucs: Chris Leroux

by Zane Heiple

Photo by zimbio.com

With a slew of injuries, interleague play, and double headers, the Pittsburgh Pirates roster seems to change every day.  The most recent change came on Sunday when Chris Leroux was called up from AAA Indianapolis to take Brad Lincoln’s spot, after he pitched in game two of the twin bill against the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Leroux is a former 2005 seventh round draft pick of the Florida Marlins.  He would join the Pirates after being claimed off waivers from the Marlins on September 13, 2010.  His Major League debut was in May of 2009 with the Marlins and actually was with the Pirates at the end of the 2010 season.  Prior to making his 2011 debut with the Buccos, Chris had played with the Altoona Curve and Indianapolis Indians appearing in a combined 29 games.  His stats in the minors include a 4-4 record with 46 strikeouts, 14 walks, and an ERA of 2.94.  He came out of the bullpen on Sunday to pitch one inning.

Chris Leroux’s time this season with the Pirates will depend on a variety of factors including future injuries, performance, and pitchers coming off the DL.  No matter how long he is with the big club, Leroux will play a part in keeping the Buccos in contention for the N.L. Central title.

Rodriguez's RBI Single, Pirates' Mistakes Cap Nationals' Comeback In Game Two Of Doubleheader

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Greg Fiume/Getty Images

After an exciting game in the afternoon, the Buccos and Nationals were back at it again this evening for the second game of the teams’ doubleheader.  Unfortunately for the Pirates, missed opportunities, lack of defensive fundamentals, and errors assisted the Nationals, as they tallied a come-from-behind win over the Buccos 4-3.

Brad Lincoln made his first Major League start of the season for Pittsburgh, going six innings while giving up two runs on four this, while walking three and striking out four batters.  His mound opponent, Washington’s John Lannan, lasted seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits. 

The Nationals took the lead in the second inning.  After a leadoff walk to Jayson Werth, Lincoln gave up a single to Rick Ankiel, putting runners on first and third with one out.  Wilson Ramos then grounded out to shortstop, scoring Werth from third.

The lead wouldn’t last long, though, as the Pirates responded with two runs of their own in the third frame.  After Eric Fryer recorded his first Major League hit with a single to left field, Chase d’Arnaud singled him home, tying the game 1-1.  Andrew McCutchen broke the tie with an RBI double to deep right field, and the Bucs led 2-1. 

That was short lived as well, however, as the Nats responded immediately with a run of their own.  Lincoln walked Roger Bernadina, who would eventually score on Ryan Zimmerman’s fielder’s choice, tying the game 2-2 at the end of the third.

The Pirates took the lead in the seventh inning.  Matt Diaz singled, then moved over to third base on Neil Walker’s single.  Josh Harrison grounded into a double play, but Diaz was able to score on the play, giving the Bucs a 3-2 lead.

Daniel McCutchen nearly gave the lead away in the bottom half of the inning, but after walking Bernadina and Danny Espinosa, he struck out Zimmerman to end the frame.

The wheels fell off the Pirates’ bullpen in the eighth inning.  Entering the inning with a 3-2 lead, the Buccos gave up two runs.  Tony Watson was on the mound for both runs, though all the blame shouldn’t be placed on him.  Brian Bixler attempted to steal third base, and Eric Fryer’s throw to the bag was wild, bouncing off Brandon Wood.  Bixler scored on the play, tying the game.  Ivan Rodriguez broke the tie with an RBI single to shallow right, scoring Ankiel.

Drew Storen came in and shut down the Pirates in the ninth inning to record his 20^th save of the season.  Watson suffered the loss for Pittsburgh, his first of the season.

This was a game the Pirates simply gave away.  While there is certainly plenty of blame to go around in this one, all cannot be placed on Watson.  The Pirates squandered a number of opportunities to stretch the lead in the latter innings.  Garrett Jones left two runners on in the seventh inning.  Neil Walker, while managing one hit tonight, still didn’t look comfortable at the plate.  His .246 batting average, and the fact that Clint Hurdle lowered him to sixth in the lineup, should tell us all something…Walker is struggling mightily.

Brad Lincoln did a pretty nice job for Pittsburgh tonight.  His fastball clocked up to 95 tonight, and he used it consistently throughout his six innings of work.  The three walks were certainly concerning, but he got out of a few jams effectively and kept the team in the game. 

Andrew McCutchen continued his hot streak tonight with three more hits, including a triple, double, and single, along with an RBI.  He was stranded on base all three times he reached.  His batting average now sis at .289 and is by far the team’s biggest threat, although it will be interesting to see if he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow afternoon.

The Buccos drop to one game over .500, and they continue to struggle against the Nationals in Washington.  Tomorrow is a huge game for Pittsburgh.  With a victory, it will secure them another winning road trip, will push them back to two games over .500, and will even things up with the Nationals this season.

Kevin Correia will make the start tomorrow afternoon for the Pirates, while the Nationals will send Jason Marquis to the mound. 

Record Vs. Nationals: 3-4

Record Vs. N.L. East: 9-14

Record On The Road: 23-21

Overall Record: 42-41

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Jones And McCutchen Hit Back-To-Back Homeruns To Lead Bucs Past Nationals

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Greg Fiume/Getty Images

After a very frustrating and disappointing defeat at the hands of the Washington Nationals last night, the Pirates began a day-night doubleheader this afternoon for the first of two at 3:35pm.  James McDonald took the hill for the Buccos, facing off against the Nationals’ ancient right hander Livan Hernandez.

McDonald gave the Pirates a strong start, while Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen smashed back-to-back homeruns in the eighth to lead the Pirates to a 5-3 over the Nationals.

The Buccos jumped out in front of Livan Hernandez early this afternoon.  After a leadoff broken-bat single, Alex Presley stole second base to put himself into scoring position for Jones.  G.I. Jones took advantage of that by smacking a single down the line past first base to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.  After McCutchen hammered a double, leaving Jones at third base, Neil Walker slapped a sacrifice fly to right, giving the Bucs a 2-0 advantage.

The Nationals answered in the second inning with a run of their own.  Three consecutive singles by Michael Morse, Danny Espinosa and Ivan Rodriguez got them on the board with two on base and only one out.  McDonald cleaned things up quickly from there, however.  Espinosa was picked off at third, and then Ian Desmond struck out looking to end the threat and the inning. 

Both teams squandered a number of opportunities throughout the next few innings, including the Nationals’ fifth frame.  After loading the bases with only one out, the Nats left them loaded after Ryan Zimmerman and Laynce Nix were unable to push any runs across the plate.  The Buccos still held the 2-1 advantage entering the six inning.

The Nationals tied things up in the seventh inning on a solo homerun by Rick Ankiel to deep right center off McDonald.  Jose Veras relieved McDonald, and, after pitching his way into more trouble later in the inning, was able to get Jayson Werth to fly out into a double play to end the inning.

The game didn’t remain tied for long.  Garrett Jones belted a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence in the eighth, giving the Buccos a 3-2 lead.  Jones had three hits on the day, along with two RBI’s.  Not to be outdone, Andrew McCutchen hammered a homerun to deep left to give the Bucs a 4-2 lead.  Both homeruns came off of former Pirate Sean Burnett.  Cutch had two hits on the day, raising his season batting average to .283.

After Veras battled his way through a scoreless eighth inning, Joel Hanrahan brought down the hammer for his 24^th save in as many chances, sitting the Nats down to close out the game. Despite giving up an RBI single to Werth, Hanrahan was able to record the final out of the ballgame, securing the win for the Bucs.

This was a big response from the Pirates this afternoon in the first game of the doubleheader.  After a difficult loss last night in which the Pirates managed only one run, the offense responded today with five runs on ten hits, including two homeruns.  It was refreshing to see there is still some pop in the bats of Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen, while Alex Presley added three hits of his own.

Unfortunately, Chase d’Arnaud and Neil Walker were both held hitless this afternoon.  For Walker, it was his first start after sitting out the previous two games.  While he did record an RBI today, his averaged has dipped to .246 for the season.

Still, the victory pushed the Pirates back to two games over the .500 mark, and gives the club some momentum heading into the second game of the doubleheader.

Brad Lincoln was called up today and will make his first start of the season for the Buccos in game two.  The game is set to start at 7:05pm.

Record Vs. Nationals: 3-3

Record Vs. N.L. East: 9-13

Record On The Road: 23-20

Overall Record: 42-40

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Morton Pitches Six Shoutout Innings As Pirates Beat Astros

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

The Pirates faced off against the Houston Astros this afternoon.  The Buccos were coming off a victory yesterday against the Boston Red Sox, and were looking to continue their winning ways against their N.L. Central Division foes from the lone star state.

Pittsburgh sent Charlie Morton to the mound against Houston’s Ryan Rowland-Smith.  Morton has faced scrutiny and criticism because of his performance during the regular season in past years, but no one can deny his success so far this Spring Training season.  His success would continue today as Morton pitched six shutout innings on his way to earning his first victory of the spring, as the Buccos defeated the Astros, 3-1.

Morton gave up only four hits and struck out five throughout his six innings of work today, lowering his ERA to an impressive 1.29.  Evan Meek and Chris Leroux also pitched scoreless baseball for the Buccos, while Michael Crotta gave up the only run to the Astros in the ninth inning, but held on to close the game out for Pittsburgh.  In all, the Pirates’ pitching staff gave up just five hits to Houston, which allowed them to be in control throughout the game.

While the Pirates’ offense didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard, they did just enough to get the team the victory this afternoon.  Ronny Cedeno blasted a two-run homerun in the second inning, scoring Josh Fields to give the Buccos a 2-0 lead early.  Ryan Doumit added to the lead the very next inning with an RBI triple which was deflected by Houston’s center fielder Michael Bourn, allowing Doumit to reach third base and Andy Marte to score.  That would be all the offense the Pirates would need today, as their pitching did the rest against the Astros.

With the victory today, the Buccos improve their Spring Training record to 10-14.  With another dominating performance this afternoon, Morton continues to make a strong case that he should be added to the starting pitching rotation on Opening Day.  While the opportunity is still there for the likes of Brad Lincoln and Scott Olsen, it appears as though Morton is still the leading candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation.  Regardless, it was a great performance by him today.

Other than Cedeno and Doumit, Steve Pearce had another good day at the plate for the Buccos, going 2/3 and increasing his batting average to .306 for the spring. 

One disturbing fact from today’s game was that the Pirates accumulating half as many errors as they had hits.  Four errors is unacceptable for any team, especially the Pirates as they are going to need to make the routine plays as often as possible to stay competitive with the rest of the N.L. Central and beyond.  Still it was great win for the Pirates, and they’ll look to continue their strong play tomorrow against the Minnesota Twins.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Lincoln Leaves With Injury, Pirates Lose Close One To Phillies

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: J. Meric/Getty Images

The Pirates entered today’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies playing bad baseball.  Bad pitching, base-running and fielding mistakes, and a general lack of offensive firepower have been the main reasons for the team’s recent slide, and, unfortunately, it has lately seemed a lot like a typical regular season for our Buccos.

After having their latest two starting pitchers getting knocked out of their games early, the Pirates sent Brad Lincoln to the mound to take on the Phillies’ Roy Oswalt.  Lincoln, while expected to begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, has pitched well this spring, and that trend would continue today against Philadelphia.

Overall, Lincoln pitched a nice game, giving up one run on one hit, while walking two through his 2.2 innings of work.  He was expected to continue, but his afternoon was cut short after Phillies’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins smacked a line drive off his right arm.  Lincoln suffered a bruised forearm on the play and was removed from the game immediately.

Oswalt pitched well against the Pirates today.  He gave up two runs, neither of them earned, on five hits and struck out five through six innings of work.  The Pirates scored both of their runs off Oswalt in the third inning.  After a Josh Rodriguez leadoff single and a Phillies’ error, Corey Wimberly hit a sacrifice groundout to give the Buccos a 1-0 lead.  John Bowker’s RBI double scored Lincoln to make it 2-0.  The Pirates wouldn’t score another run the rest of the afternoon.

Overall, the pitching staff for the Buccos did a nice job.  Scoreless innings thrown by Chris Resop, Jose Veras, and Michael Crotta kept Pittsburgh in the game into the final inning. 

Ben Francisco and Pete Orr opened the ninth inning with back-to-back base-hit bunts against the Pirates’ Chris Leroux.  Then, with two outs in the final frame, Tuffy Gosewisch’s two run single gave the Phillies the walk-off victory in front of their crowd at Bright House Field.

Ryan Doumit also returned to the field today for the first time since he strained his right oblique on March 8.  He went 0-2 with one strikeout on the afternoon.

So while the Pirates lost again today, they played well for the most part.  Certainly the pitching staff kept them in the game throughout, which is something that hasn’t happened the past few days.  The Phillies are expected to be at the top of the National League this year, so it was a good opponent for the Pirates to play against again today. 

Still, there was room for improvement today.  The Buccos managed just seven hits, left five runners on base, and were 2-9 with runners in scoring position.  Those are the type of stats that make it that much more difficult for the inferior Pirates to get a victory in a close game like this was today. 

The Pirates’ record this spring is now 8-14.  They return to McKechnie Field on Saturday to take on the Red Sox at 1:05pm.  Kevin Correia will make the start against Boston’s Josh Beckett.  The game will be televised for us Pirates’ fans, and the majority of the Buccos’ starting position players are expected to be in the lineup.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!