CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pirates played a much different game yesterday, one that resembled the early season Pirates and not the team on a seven game losing streak. They played a hard fought game and with only a one run deficit in the ninth the Pirates batters were able to rally some offense to win the ball game. The late inning win resembled the ones they put together against the Reds during their last home stand.
Jeff Karstens, who was just brought up from AAA on Tuesday afternoon, pitched 6 and 2/3 innings allowing only six hits and two earned runs in his first start of the season. A lot of the credit for the Pirates win came from Karstens deep start, which allowed the bullpen to get some rest after being taxed in the previous game. Karstens was replaced in the seventh after giving up a homerun to catcher George Kottaras to tie the game at 2-2.
The Pirates hitting was much like their last four games, good but not great. The Pirates were still having trouble scoring runs, despite putting men on base in all but one inning. And a lot of this trouble had to do with the excellent play that the Brewers have been getting out of their outfielders. In fact a lot of the Pirates trouble with the Brewers this season probably stem from this very issue, as Pirate numerous rallies have been cut short by Brewers outfielders making near impossible grabs.
Well that and the bat of Prince Fielder, who is hitting .350 against the Pirates. Fielder was 1 for 5 yesterday, but that one hit he got was a solo home run in the eighth inning to put the Brewers ahead 3-2.
Then in the ninth inning the Brewers brought in their closer Trevor Hoffman and it looked dismal for the Pirates as Hoffman has a major league leading 594 saves in his career.
But Hoffman was not on his game tonight allowing lead off hitter Rodney Cedno to tie the game with a solo homerun. Then two batters later Adam LaRoche was able to get on with a hard hit ball to left.
LaRoche, who spent last week on the bench with back spasms, went 4 for 5 yesterday bring his average up to an even .400.
After a double by Milledge and an intentional walk for Jones, the bases were loaded as Ryan Doumit came to the plate.
Doumit who already had two hits on the night was clutch in his at bat rocketing a fastball to deep center field for a grand slam to put the Pirates ahead 7-3.
And with the late inning win two streaks came to an end, the Pirates seven game losing streak as well as their 22 game losing streak to the Brewers at Miller Park.
The Pirates will look to continue their success Wednesday as they finish up their series with the Brewers.
