CHRISTOPHER PANISNO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pirates came in with a lot of confidence yesterday as they began the first of a four game series with the Dodgers in Los Angeles. So far in the road trip the Pirates have been really bad and pretty good. They started out the road trip by getting swept by the Houston Astros in humiliating fashion. However, after another humiliating loss to Milwaukee to open the next series, the Pirates have really tuned their performance around winning two of three in late innings in impressive fashion.
Meanwhile Dodgers were coming into this game 8-13 and were on a four game slide.
Today the Pirates took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Ryan Doumit triple that scored both Lastings Milledge and Andy LaRoche. The triple was due in part to Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp taking his eye off the ball, allowing it to roll under his glove and all the way to the wall before being fielded. Kemp was not charged with the error, but his mistake would cost the Dodgers the game.
The Pirates marked improvement in the last three games has come mainly from the good starting pitching that is stretching into later innings and keeping the bullpen fresh.
Today was no different as Pirates staring pitcher Brian Burres went 5 and 1/3 innings strikeout three and allowing only four hits and four walks.
The Pirates also got a great performance out of Burres replacement, Jack Taschner, who went 2 and 2/3 innings striking out two and not allowing a single hit or walk.
However, the game turned into a pitcher duel as Dodgers starter Kershaw went 6 and 1/3 with seven strikeouts, allowing three hits, four walks, and two earned runs.
The only Pirate batter who had a good day today was Ryan Doumit who went two for four including his 2 RBIs in the first and a stole base in the fourth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Pirate closer Octavio Dotel was not brought in for the save. Instead Evan Meek was brought in to try and earn his first major league save of the season. Meek did not disappoint putting the first three batters away to give the Pirates the win.
The Pirates now 10-12 will try to keep their good momentum going as they continue the series Friday evening.
