CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
It took the Pirates extra innings yesterday, but with help from Ryan Doumit the Bucs outlasted the Atlanta Braves 3-2 to avoid the sweep.
Ryan Doumit home run in the tenth inning was his first walk off homer of his career. Doumit swung at the first pitch by Takashi Saito and line one over the Clemente Wall. Doumit finished the day 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
The Pirates other two runs came in the sixth inning, as a triple by Andrew McCutchen began the productive inning. Garrett Jones was walked to put men on first and third with one out. Next batter, Steve Pearce, hit a sacrifice fly that allowed McCutchen to score. Jones would remain on first, but not for long.
Jones would steal second base during the next at bat. Lasting Milledge would single to move Jones over to third base. Then Doumit would single in Jones on a drive to right field giving the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
Meanwhile Zack Duke, who got a no-decision today, held up his end of the game. He pitched seven innings without an earned run or a walk while striking out five batters. Duke’s only run scored came in the second inning off of an error by shortstop Ronny Cedeno.
Reliever Evan Meek would cost Duke the win, allowing a solo home run in the eighth inning to Eric Hinkse to tie the game 2-2. Instead closer Octavio Dotel got his second win of the season after coming in the tenth inning and pitching a scoreless inning.
In other news Aki Iwamura broke his 0 for 34 slumps with a single in the bottom of the fifth. Iwamura would go on to double in the seventh and finish 2 for 5. Iwamura hitless streak nearly tied Bob Veale who went 36 at-bats without a hit in 1969.
The Pirates finished this home stand 2 and 3. They will begin a seven game road trip Monday, starting with a four game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
