Walker Ties It, Jones Wins Game For Pirates

by Zane Heiple

Photo by Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates used the long ball to win 5-4 in extra innings over the St. Louis Cardinals.  It started in the third inning, with the Pirates down 1-0, Andrew McCutchen would step to the plate with runners on second and third.  He would then tuck the ball inside the foul pole for a three run homer that gave the Buccos the lead.

The sixth inning saw the Cardinals tie the game at three.  Albert Pujols would hit his thirtieth home run of the year on a solo shot to right field.  After Lance Berkman walked with one out, David Freese would double to right field, scoring Berkman from first base.

Joel Hanrahan came into the game to begin the ninth inning and did not show his best stuff tonight.  He would allow the leadoff batter to double, which was followed up by a sacrifice bunt.  With one out and a runner on third Pujols was intentionally walked to set up the double play.  Matt Holliday hit a sacrifice fly, which at the time looked like the winning run.

Neil Walker had other plans though.  He would lead off the bottom part of the inning with a solo home run to right center field and tie the game at four.  This game would head to extra innings, which had Pirates fans a little worried since Jerry Meals was the umpire behind home plate.  For those of you who don’t remember, he was the umpire during the Pirates-Braves nineteen inning debacle back in July.

This time however Meals opinion at the plate had no bearing on the outcome of this game.  After neither team scored in the tenth, the Cards would get a base runner in the top of the eleventh, but would leave him at first base.  This would allow Garrett Jones to blast a walk off home run over the right field seats and one hop into the Allegheny River.

This was another big win for the Buccos tonight as they look to make up ground in the National League Central Division.  While the playoffs may no longer be in sight, this team is playing to end the 18 year losing curse, and many players are looking to show the deserve to be on the team in 2012. 

Jose Tabata was back on the 25-man roster tonight.  Pedro Alvarez was sent to AAA Indianapolis to make room on the roster.  Pittsburgh management was also able to sign their first and second round picks from the 2011 draft prior to the deadline.  These two signings brought the number of draft picks that the Pirates signed this year to 24.  Tonight’s win gave the Pirates 58, which is one more than they had for all of the 2010 season.

These two teams will wrap up their series tomorrow night PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.  Paul Maholm will look to pitch well and receive some run support from the Buccos Bats, while the Cardinals will counter with Kyle Lohse.

Record vs. Cardinals:  5-3
Record vs. N.L. Central:  27-23
Record at PNC Park:  28-32
Overall Record:  58-63

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Cardinals Use Long Ball To Power Past Pirates

by Zane Heiple

Photo by AP

While the Pittsburgh Pirates have improved in many areas this year, the one area that still has much room for improvement is the ability to hit the home run.  The lack of home runs is why the Buccos need to add a bat before the trade deadline if they hope to contend in the N.L. Central.  The St. Louis Cardinals showed what can happen when you have power in the lineup as they would hit three long balls to give them a 6-4 edge over the Pirates.

The first two HR for the Cards came in the first inning off of starter Paul Maholm.  After Garrett Jones narrowly missed a ball at the Clemente wall, Albert Pujols would hit a two run shot to centerfield.  With two outs, Lance Berkman would double and then be brought home on a David Freese homer to right field.

Pittsburgh answered with two runs in the second.  Jones would double and then score when Ronny Cedeno singled.  Maholm would help his own cause by singling home Cedeno.  While the run scored, the first of two costly base running errors would occur as Michael McKenry would be tagged out trying to return to second base. 

St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter was excellent at the plate tonight as he would go 2-4 and drive in a run during the third inning after the batter in front of him, Nick Punto was intentionally walked.   Carpenter would go eight innings allowing four runs on ten hits, while striking out four and walking one.

The Buccos cut into the lead again in the sixth inning when Jones would bring in two runs, but would be thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.  This proved costly as the two batters after him singled, meaning that the game could have been tied at five, instead of the Cards leading 5-4.

The final home run came in the eighth inning when Yadier Molina went deep off of Pirates reliever Chris Resop. 

This was the second game in a row that the Pirates hurt themselves with costly mistakes.  Tonight it was poor pitch location against a team that has power in their lineup and poor choices on the base paths that possibly cost the team runs.  The loss tonight makes tomorrow night’s game even more important to win so that Pittsburgh has a chance of winning this series on Sunday.  Tomorrow night’s game is scheduled for 7:05.  The Buccos will send Kevin Correia to the bump, while the Cards will counter with Jaime Garcia.

Record vs. Cardinals:  2-2
Record vs. N.L. Central:  24-15
Record at Home:  25-24
Overall Record:  51-46

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!