PITTSBURGH — It’s been an up and down season for infielder Pedro Ciracio. Literally. The 25-year-old was recalled by the Pirates from Triple-A Indianapolis six times this season while appearing in just seven games with the big league club.
Manager Clint Hurdle made the move to insert Ciriaco in the 9th spot for pitcher Chris Leroux in the 7th inning. And it played off.
“Very good feeling for me, to help win the game,” Ciriaco said. “I don’t want to do too much, just like to be inside the ball and short. When I got out of there, I didn’t want to play a second inning, just win the game.”
“I feel more confident now with my approach. I’ve been working hard. I know I can hit the ball. You got to be consistent for playing at the level up here. What I’m working on is being more consistent right now.”
After battling the St. Louis Cardinals in a see saw game, the Pirates entered the bottom of the 8th inning trailing 4-3.
Derrek Lee drew a one out walk and Chase d’Arnaud came in to pinch run at first base. Ryan Doumit ripped a RBI double down the right field line to tie the game at 4.
Reliever Marc Rzepcynski intentionally walked pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick to get to pinch-hitter Josh Harrison who struck out on a 2-2 pitch. Jaramillo, who became the third straight pinch-hitter, drew a walk to load the bases.
Ciriaco took a 1-2 pitch down the right field line for a two-run double to give the Pirates the eventual lead and the 6-5 win over the Cardinals.
“For him to come through in a moment like that, and for him it’s probably a bright spot for him this year,” Brad Lincoln said. “For him to be up and down, not really get that much playing time and for him to come through was huge for us tonight. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy it.”
“It’s just a great feeling for him, but you’re pulling for him, you pull for all your guys,” Hurdle said. “Obviously he’s dealt with a lot of challenges this year. I think there’s been a point in time this year where he’s made more flights than had at-bats. We’re trying to equal that out.”
“He just battled. He battled. He can get in swing mode and everyone in a while he’ll chase a bit. But he’s worked so hard to make adjustments, improve the quality of his at-bat. Everybody in there respects him…It was a really good moment for Pedro, and for our club.”
The save for closer Joel Hanrahan wasn’t the prettiest, nor easiest for him this season. The Cardinals combined for two singles in the 9th off Hanrahan.
Daniel Descalso scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to one run. But Hanrahan got Corey Patterson to strikeout to end the game, notching his 37th save of the season. His 37 saves are tied for fourth in the National League and represent the third-highest single season total in team history.
Trailing the Cardinals 1-0 in the 1st, the Pirates battled back in the bottom of the frame.
Alex Presley hit a leadoff single to center field and Neil Walker hit a double down the right field line. Small ball plated the two runs in the frame. Andrew McCutchen and Derrek Lee followed with sac flies to right field to take a 2-1 lead.
The lead, however, didn’t last long as the Cardinals fought back in the 3rd.
“We respect the game, they know they are playing a club that’s in a chase,“ Hurdle said. “And it’s a good club. It’s one of the best clubs in baseball, year in and year out. So you know you got to battle, you know you got to go up there and beat them. They don’t give much away. We were able to stay on them and stay after them.”
Skip Schumaker scored on a RBI single to right field by Rafael Furcal to tie the game at 2.
“I was able to get me some double plays there to get me out of some innings,” Lincoln said. “I was just able to pitch around some, I’d say, damage control, keep the team in the ballgame.”
Once again, the Bucs showed their resilience by battling back against Lohse in the 5th. Alex Presley hit a leadoff single and with two outs, Neil Walker hit a RBI double off the Clemente wall to retake a 3-2 lead. Presley now has 15 multi-hit games with the Pirates this season.
After allowing Jon Jay to leadoff with the 6th inning with a single, Albert Pujols deposited a two-run shot into right center field to take a 4-3 lead.
“You got to make your pitches,“ Lincoln said. “I think I made a decent pitch, it just caught a little too much of the plate. He was able to do some damage with it. That’s a guy to focus on and make your pitches when you need to, just didn’t execute there.”
“He’s not the first guy that Pujols has got,” Hurdle said. “He’s not going to be the last. I just like the edge he takes out there and the way he went after him. That was his fight tonight.”
Hurdle went to the ‘pen, bringing in righty Chris Leroux, who got out the 6th inning unscathed.
In his last six appearances, right-hander Chris Leroux has retired 26 of the 29 batters he has faced. He has been scored upon in just two of his last 16 games with the Pirates this season.
“Our bullpen did another solid job,” Hurdle said.
Lincoln allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 5.1 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
“His North, South was the worst it’s been all year as far as pitching up in the zone tonight,” Hurdle said. “That being said, he stayed with his game plan. He battled, he pitched in, he tried to spin the ball, threw some changeups, went right after them, didn’t pitch away from contact.”
It marked the first time this season in his five starts that Lincoln hasn’t tossed six innings with three runs or less.
“More less just up in the zone,” Lincoln said. “East, West was good, just got the ball up a little bit and they were able to get it through the infield or get it over the infielders heads. I felt pretty good out there, just up in the zone today.”
With the 6-5 win, the Pirates improve to 67-80 on the season. The Pirates will face the Cardinals for game two of the three-game set on Tuesday at 7:05 PM. Right-hander Chris Carpenter (9-9, 3.75 ERA) will face righty Jeff Karstens (9-8, 3.32 ERA).
Photo credit: YAhoo! Sports
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