CHRISTOPHER PANISNO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Buco’s staged another come from behind victory yesterday as the Pirates pulled a second victory from the hands of major league saves leader Trevor Hoffman. The Pirates had lost 22 straight games at Miller Park in Milwaukee and were on a 7 game losing streak prior to Tuesday night. Yesterday they made it two in a row with the 6-5 win to take the series and improve to 9-12, pulling even with the Brewers record.
In the ninth inning Hoffman gave up a home run to lead off batter Ryan Doumit tying the score at 4-4. Hoffman, who allowed a lead off homerun to Rodney Cedeno to tie the game the night before, was able to get out of the inning with just the blown save, but the Brewers were not able to score in the bottom of the ninth sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth Andrew McCutchen would hit a lead off home run to left field to take the lead, but the Pirates would not put together any more offense to help pad the lead. McCutchen would finish the game 4 for 7 with 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.
In the bottom of the tenth the Pirates closer Octavio Dotel came in for the save, but would give up an earned run to tie the game. Dotel would get out of the inning with just a blown save and would be brought in for a better pitched eleventh inning before being replaced.
In the bottom of the thirteenth, Brewers right fielder Jim Edmonds tried to win the game on a ball hit to left field. Edmonds was on second base at the time and tried to stretch the hit by Escobar into the game winning run, but Edmonds side wide of plate to avoid the block by Doumit, allowing him to be thrown out easily.
But in the top of the fourteenth the Pirates were able to pull ahead for good as Garrett Jones’s doubled to drive in Iwamura for the 6-5 win.
The win yesterday was for more than just one in the win column. It was a matter of pride after being decimated by a margin of 53-4 their first four losses to the Brewers.
The Pirates start a four game series with the Dodgers (8-13) Thursday to finish off their long road trip.
