You know, a big part of me wanted to copy the link to my article that I posted earlier this week Here and call it a day. Erik Bedard is the 2012 Paul Maholm. The numbers are eerily similar and not in a good way. To put it plain and simple, the Pirates can’t score runs for Bedard. Period.
Going into the game, the Pirates had just a 1.06 run support average for Bedard, dead last in the league. After the Pirates’ 5-1 loss to the Cardinals, the number shrank to a minuscule .75 run support per start for Bedard.
Bedard had a rough start to the afternoon finale against the Cardinals by allowing back-to-back singles to start off the game, followed by a walk to load the bases. He would limit the damage however, as the Cardinals could only capitalize for one run. After allowing leadoff hits the first three innings of the game, Bedard settled down after a two-run single by David Freese in the third, keeping the Cardinals off of the board the rest of the way. They would tack on two more runs in the ninth inning.
“I battled and tried to minimize the damage when there were runners on,” Bedard said. “I got out of some jams and tried to throw strikes.”
Bedard bounced back from a rough first few innings, to work seven strong innings, allowing just the three runs (two earned), striking out seven on 102 pitches; the first Pirates pitcher to top 100 this season.
“We’re trying to extend pitch counts and get him up over 100 and push forward,” Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said. “I thought it was a very blue-collar effort from Erik today. “He battled, and to give us seven innings and only give up three runs, he kept making pitches and coming at them.”
Controlling the game for the Cardinals was Kyle Lohse. With Chris Carpenter still nursing an injury, and Adam Wainwright yet to return to his Cy Young form, Lohse has carried the staff in a big way. Lohse worked seven innings, giving up just six hits, one run and striking out five on 97 pitches.
The lone Pirates’ run came in the eighth inning as pinch-hitter Casey McGehee drove in Michae McKenry following his leadoff double. To say Lohse has been dominate this year is an understatement. The run Lohse gave up, “raised” his ERA to .99 on the season. He is now 3-0 on the campaign.
Whether it’s that Lohse is that good, or the Pirates’ bats are that bad, Bedard knows the runs will come.
“All you can do is battle,” Bedard said. “The runs will come. Right now they just aren’t coming, so just keep doing what you can and put zeros up there.”
Hurdle recognized the lack of support as well.
“We’ve scored two runs for Erik in his four starts which is problematic, but I felt he pitched a very good ballgame today,” Hurdle said.
The Pirates are planning to start their series with the Colorado Rockies tomorrow at 7:05 p.m., but with 90 percent chance of snow, there is a strong possibility the game could be pushed back to Thursday or scheduled as a double-header on Tuesday. The probable starters for the game are Kevin Correia (1-0, 1.50 ERA) for the Pirates (6-9) after Hurdle and General Manager Neal Huntington confirmed he will start over Brad Lincoln, and the ageless wonder Jamie Moyer (1-2, 2.55 ERA) for the Rockies (7-7).
Pirates:
McLouth 1-4
Tabata 2-4
McCutchen 0-4
Walker 1-4
Jones 0-4
Alvarez 0-3
Barmes 0-3
McKenry 1-3
Bedard 0-2
McGehee (PH) 1-1
Cardinals:
Furcal 3-4
Greene 1-4
Holliday 1-4
Beltran 0-4
Freese 1-4
Molina 1-4
Carpenter 0-4
Robinson 2-3
Lohse 0-3
Schumaker (PH) 1-1
Photo credts: Getty Images
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