Pirates Beat Brewers In Wild One At Miller Park

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Scott Boehm/Getty Images

The Pirates entered tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers having lost 36 of their last 39 games at Miller Park, including a most-recent 12-game losing streak.

While the Brewers had already clinched the N.L. Central division title, they still had much to play for this series as they’re battling for home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.  As for the Pirates, they were looking to finish up a rollercoaster season on a positive note.

It was a wild one tonight in Milwaukee, as the two teams combined for 17 runs on 25 hits, using 10 pitchers in a game that lasted over four hours.

Typically, when the Brewers would score a lot of runs against the Pirates, it has been in blowout fashion.  Tonight, on the other hand, the Bucs out-hit the Brew-Crew, beating them in their home ballpark by a final score of 9-8.

On a night dominated by offense, Alex Presley led the charge for the Bucs, going 3-5 with 3 RBI’s, including a solo homerun to lead off the game.  Pedro Alvarez added two hits and had 3 RBI’s of his own, while Xavier Paul and Chase d’Arnaud also had multi-hit games.

The pitching certainly wasn’t a bright spot for either team tonight.  For Charlie Morton, he battled for every out in his five innings of work.  He ended up being charged for five runs on eight hits, but he had the lead when he left the ballgame. 

Jason Grilli got out of a bases-loaded and one-out jam in the eighth inning to set the table for Joel Hanrahan, who closed out the game for his 40^th save of the season.

It was a nice victory to end the losing streak at Miller Park.  But the pitching continues to be worrisome.  Morton struggled tonight with his control, which is of serious concern.  The offense showed up tonight, but a pitching staff can’t rely on 9 runs of support consistently from an offense.

Andrew McCutchen was scratched from tonight’s game after he was hit by a baseball during batting practice.  Xavier Paul took his place in the lineup, while Alex Presley played centerfield.

The Pirates will look to clinch a series victory tomorrow night at Miller Park.  Ross Ohlendorf will try to deliver an encouraging performance in his final start of the season. 

Record Vs. Brewers: 3-10

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 39-39

Record On The Road: 36-43

Overall Record: 72-88

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Brewers Comeback, Defeat Pirates In Extras

by Zane Heiple

Photo by AP

S.O.B.  For some us this stands as a phrase to help us deal with a frustrating moment in life.  For Pittsburgh Pirates fans this stands for Same Old Buccos, which is what we were all saying after today’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers and another sweep at Miller Park.  This defeat was the 36^th in 39 appearances in Milwaukee for the Buccos.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Andrew McCutchen doubled home Garrett Jones.  Charlie Morton made it look like that was all the offense he would need on the day as he would pitch 7.1 innings allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. 

The lone run he gave up came with two outs and Joel Hanrahan on the mound.  With a runner on second, Hanrahan would strike out Nyjer Morgan, but the ball would get away from Michael McKenry, allowing runners to be on first and third.  This led to Ryan Braun hitting a single that would tie the game, and ultimately send it to extras.

This Buccos had the bases loaded in the top of the tenth with two outs, but Brandon Wood would hit the ball an inch in front of home plate for an easy force out at home by Brewers catcher George Kottaras.  It was the bottom of the inning that allowed fans of the Brew Crew to get out their brooms.  After getting the first batter out, Chris Resop would give up a single to Kottaras and then a double to Casey McGehee.  This allowed Morgan to get back at his old ball club with a sacrifice fly to right field for the win.

S.O.B. is just what this game was, great starting pitching wasted by a lack of offense.  A 2-4 road trip was unfortunate, since the Buccos lost the last two games of the trip by one run apiece.  Pittsburgh will head home to begin three game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 with James McDonald starting for the Pirates and Jake Westbrook on the bump for the Cardinals.

Record vs. Brewers:  0-8
Record vs. N.L. Central:  25-23
Record on the Road:  30-31
Overall Record:  56-63

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Brewers' Series Still A Big Deal

By Chad Carlson

Two weeks ago, this could’ve been a battle for first place in the N.L. Central.  Now, since one team has endured a recent 10-game losing streak while the other has won 13 of their last 15, this weekend’s series between the Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers falls into the same category as most have over the years.  There’s not much at stake, and the Brewers are expected to win easily.

The Pirates start today 10 games back of Milwaukee in the N.L. Central.  While the 10-game skid suffered against the Phillies, Cubs, and Padres have driven a lot of fans away from Bucco interest, there is still a lot for fans to cheer for over the next six weeks. 

First of all, the Pirates have had a horrible month of August thus far, and they look like a different team since the All Star break.  But, to their credit, and to the astonishment of quite a few, they traveled to San Francisco and took two of three from the World Series champion Giants at AT&T Park, a very difficult place to play. 

Pittsburgh is 2-1 so far on this road trip, with three left against a team that they are winless against so far this season in five attempts, and against a team they have lost to nine straight times dating back to last season.  The Brewers are playing as good (if not better) than anyone in baseball, and while their road woes plagued them earlier in the year, it seems they are the favorite every time they take the field, whether it be at Miller Park or elsewhere. 

So why should we believe that this series will be any different?

Throughout the course of the 2011 season, the Pirates have knocked out one obstacle after another, from drastically improving the road record, to winning series against the Phillies and Red Sox in front of record-breaking crowds, to sending three players to the All-Star game.  But the one thing they haven’t been able to accomplish yet this season has been to beat the Brewers.

This is a statement series for the Pirates.  Milwaukee has no respect for Pittsburgh as a baseball team…and up to this point, they shouldn’t.  Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Nyjer Morgan, and the rest of the Brewers look down on the Pirates.  They don’t respect them.  The Brewers are proof that small market teams can compete with the big guns in baseball, and they know that.  They are arrogant and they don’t believe the Pirates belong on the same field as them.

The Pirates need to take the next step as a team and prove that they do, indeed, belong on the field with the Brewers, that, while they may have too much ground to make up this season, they do belong in the conversation about the N.L. Central leaders along with the Brewers and Cardinals.

Sitting at 56-60, the Bucs still have a realistic shot at finishing above the .500 mark.  With ten games against both Milwaukee and St. Louis remaining on this year’s schedule, they can still make a lot of noise, and, at the very least, be a nuisance for both their divisional foes down the stretch.

Starting tonight, it’s time for the Pirates to take a stand against the Brewers.  If  they’re going to beat us, they’re going to need to outplay us for nine innings.  We’re not going to fold.  We’re not going to be intimidated.  We belong on this field with you.  We can compete with you.  And we’re going to beat you…in front of your home crowd.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Pitching Falls Apart, Buccos Swept By Brewers

By Zane Heiple

Photo Credit: AP

Well Buccos’ fans, let’s face it; the Pirates stink when they visit the city of Milwaukee.  Today’s series’ finale was no different.  I bet some of you, like me, had a bit of hope coming into today.  Kevin Correia was on the mound, Pittsburgh has been great on the road so far, and the Florida Marlins have been the only team to sweep the Buccos this year.  Once again, hope clouded our own reality.

After a quick 1-2-3 top of the first, the Brewers wasted little jumping on the Pirates’ throats.  Two singles allowed Ryan Braun to hit a three-run homer to right field.  This was followed up by a Casey McGee solo shot two batters later to make it 4-0.  The second inning saw Braun give us more of a reason to hate him (like we needed more) when he hit a two-out RBI triple.

The Brew Crew added another run in the third on a Jonathan Lucroy double that scored McGee from third.  These six runs spelled the end of Correia’s day after four innings.  He gave up six runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out one.  This was by far his worst start of the season as many of his pitches were left up over the plate and drilled into play.

However, just when you think Pittsburgh is out of a game, the offense decided to make an appearance in the fifth inning.  Neil Walker led off the inning with a solo homerun to centerfield.  The next four runs all came with two outs.  Ronny Cedeno doubled home Chris Snyder.  This was followed by a Steve Pearce pinch-hit double that cut Milwaukee’s lead to two.  Andrew McCutchen hit his first triple of the year and then was brought home by a Jose Tabata single to make it a 6-5 Brewers’ lead after 4 ½ innings.

After coming back from a six-run deficit to make it a one-run game, it made sense for Clint Hurdle to bring in a relief pitcher that has been performing well lately.  That’s why his decision to bring in the struggling Chris Resop made me scratch my head.  Chris was able to get two of the first three batters out, but the fourth batter he faced made him pay for a pitch left over the heart of the plate.  With a runner on, Lucroy struck again, this time with a  two-run homerun to give Milwaukee an 8-5 lead.

The Brew Crew added a run in the seventh to give themselves a four-run lead.  The Buccos gave a bit of a fight in the ninth as Pedro Alvarez scored on a Cedeno single.  With the bases loaded, Jose Tabata came to the plate with one out and the opportunity to keep hope alive.  I think we all knew what was going to happen, as Tabata grounded into the game-ending double play, allowing Milwaukee to secure the three-game sweep.

Another rough one for the Pirates, on a day when the offense scored six runs on ten hits, the overall pitching couldn’t keep the Brewers’ lineup in check.  Pittsburgh will visit the cheese state six more times this year and there is a good chance they will lose those games, unless a voodoo doctor comes in and lifts whatever curse has been placed on our beloved Buccos.

Pittsburgh will fly to our nation’s capital for a short two-game set with the Washington Nationals, starting tomorrow.  Hopefully they leave those bad Milwaukee vibes in Wisconsin and are to break out their current funk.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Record Vs. Brewers: 0-5

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 9-9

Record On The Road: 11-11

Overall Record: 18-22

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Bullpen Tagged For Six Runs, Pirates Lose Fourth Straight

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: AP

Here we go again?

Throughout the Buccos’ historic, infamous 18-season long losing streak, there has typically been that one stretch during the year when they drop a significant amount of games in a short period of time, digging themselves a hole they are incapable of recovering from.  In the past, it’s been the pitching at times, the hitting at times, or, in some cases, just plain bad luck.  However the pieces fall into place over the years, there has always been one common theme:  a Pirates’ losing streak.

Unfortunately, that is exactly where the Pirates are tonight:  in the middle of their longest losing streak of the 2011 season thus far.  The Buccos dropped their fourth straight game today after an 8-2 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Jeff Karstens made the start for the Buccos, and again, put together a nice game, keeping his team alive in the game.  The Pirates’ right-hander gave up two runs on five hits through five innings. Both runs came on solo homeruns by Prince Fielder and Brandon Boggs in the fourth inning.

The Brewers opened the game wide open in the seventh inning with five runs, building an unbreakable lead.  The inning was highlighted by RBI’s from Craig Counsell, Casey McGehee, as well as another from Fielder.  Clint Hurdle was also tossed from the game after arguing over a close play at first base, much to the delight of the Milwaukee crowd.

Lyle Overbay blasted a homerun for the Buccos in the top of the eighth, but that run was cancelled out in the bottom half of the inning when Ryan Braun hit a solo shot of his own, his 11^th of the season.

With the loss, the Buccos have dropped four straight and fall to 18-21 on the year.  The offense isn’t scoring runs, and as of late, the bullpen is getting roughed up.  Again, Karstens pitched a satisfactory game.  Other than giving up the two solo homeruns, he only gave up three other hits through his five innings of work.  The bullpen fell apart tonight.  Daniel McCutchen gave up two runs in one inning, Joe Beimel gave up a run without recording an out, and Jose Ascanio gave up the solo shot to Braun. 

From an offensive standpoint, it was the same old story again today.  Scoring two runs is not going to win too many games in Major League Baseball.  Andrew McCutchen was the only Pirate with more than one hit.  Other than Overbay’s homerun, the Buccos’ only other run came on Jose Tabata’s sacrifice to right in the fifth inning, scoring Ronny Cedeno. 

The Pirates will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon at Miller Park in the final game of the series against the Brewers.  It certainly won’t be easy tomorrow for Pittsburgh, as they will face Zack Greinke, who had some of the best pitching numbers in the game two years ago, as still has the best stuff in the game.  Kevin Correia will take the mound for the Pirates.

Record Vs. Brewers: 0-4

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 9-8

Record On The Road: 11-10

Overall Record: 18-21

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Offense Can't Deliver, Pirates' Struggles Against Brewers Continue With 5-2 Loss

By Zane Heiple

Photo Credit: AP

After a 3-3 home stand Pittsburgh was back on the road for seven games.  They first headed west to take on the Milwaukee Brewers for a three game set.  Nothing comes easy for the Pirates against the Brewers lately, so this would be a great test to see if the 2011 Buccos are able to put the past behind them.  James McDonald took the hill for the Pirates in hope of maintaining his recent outings’ success.  The Brew Crew countered with Yovani Gallardo.

McDonald looked to slide back into his ways of the early part of the season with his start tonight.  The Brewers jumped on him in the third inning with two runs.  Jonathon Lucroy hit a solo homer to left field to lead off the inning.  This was followed a few batters later when Ryan Braun grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Gallardo, who had singled earlier that inning.

Ronny Cedeno countered in the fourth inning to tie the game for the Pirates.  Cedeno, who an inning earlier got into a verbal confrontation with Rickie Weeks, hit a two-run homer which was his first of the year.  Nice to see someone like Ronny hit the ball hard with the offense struggling so much lately. 

Pittsburgh was unable to hold onto any momentum they had in the top of the inning.  Milwaukee scored three runs in the fourth, thus ending McDonald’s night after only four innings.  His stat line read five runs, six hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks. 

James has by far been the most inconsistent pitcher of the season, but this is the second time in three games that a Pirates’ pitcher has been roughed up early.  While we all could have expected a drop off from the rotation’s hot start, if the offense can’t pick up the slack, then this combination could spell disaster for the Buccos.

The bats did struggle again tonight, in this 5-2 loss, obtaining only five hits and Lyle Overbay was the only Pirate with more than one hit.  These two teams will face off again tomorrow afternoon, with a 4:10 start time.  Jeff Karstens will look to stop this three game slide and continue the Pirates’ road success.

Record Vs. Brewers: 0-3

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 9-7

Record On The Road: 11-9

Overall Record: 18-20

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!