Snakes Pound Bucs Bullpen

The Diamondbacks scored seven times in their final two times up to pull away 11-4. With the game knotted at four, Evan Meek couldn’t hold back Arizona. Miguel Montero broke the tie with an RBI double and Chad Tracy cracked a pinch hit three run homer later in the inning – capping a five run 7th – off of John Grabow. Donnie Veal gave up a two run homer to Justin Upton in the 8th for the final scores of the game.

The Pirates did a lot against Dan Haren. They got to him for four runs in the fifth and he wouldn’t be out for the sixth. Garrett Jones had a two run double and Ryan Doumit followed with a two run homer.

That outburst put the Pirates up 4-1, but starter Charlie Morton couldn’t hold the lead. A run scoring triple from Stephen Drew was followed by a game tying homer from Gerardo Parra. Morton was pulled for Jeff Karstens after two more batters. Karstens retired four hitters without a run and he gave way to Meek to start the seventh.

The Pirates had no more hits once Haren was out of the game. Juan Gutierrez picked up the win in relief.

The Good

Getting to Dan Haren.

Jones had three hits and two RBI. Swing for the fences, Garrett!

Steve Pearce had two hits and a double in his first action since the Adam LaRoche trade.

The Bad

The bullpen. Ugh.

The Rest

Karstens has thrown 10 stright hitless innings over four appearances.

The homer was Tracy’s fourth career as a pinch hitter and second of the month.

This was Haren’s worst outing of the year. He had previously gone at least six in every start. He allowed four earned runs or more just once and that was in a seven inning outing in which he allowed five.

Jones has nine homers, but just 13 RBI. Record for fewest RBI in a season with at least 10 HR is former Pirate Dave Ross’ 2003 season (with LA) in which he had 10 HR and just 18 knocked in.

Bucs Comeback and Take Series from Milwaukee

Paul Maholm didn’t have it today. Good news is that Jeff Suppan didn’t either. Neither started pitched five innings. Suppan went 3-1/3 and gave up five runs on four homers and three singles. Maholm went 4-2/3 and gave up seven runs, leaving the game with the Pirates behind.

It was an exciting fifth inning. Milwaukee trailed 5-2. But Ryan Braun hit a bases loaded double, scoring all three and then scored on a homer by Casey McGehee. After Bill Hall singled, Maholm was pulled for Joel Hanarahan who got the final out of the inning. The Pirates pulled even in their half off of Seth McClung. Delwyn Young walked and consecutive two out doubles from Andy LaRoche and Ramon Vazquez plated two runs.

It stayed that way until the 9th when Brandon Moss hit a walk off tater off Mitch Stetter with one gone. That made a winner out of Matt Capps, who pitched a scoreless ninth despite putting two runners on.

The Good

A win.

Winning a series.

Scoring 9 runs.

Garrett Jones hit a homer and had two doubles.

Ryan Doumit homered twice and drove in three.

The Bad

Maholm getting hammered.

The Rest

As Matt noted Andy LaRoche was traded. No surprise. Let’s see what Steve Pearce can do.

In the previous 31 games, the Pirates scored 9 runs or more just once (back on 6/24 vs. Cleveland). 13 hits was the most since that same game back on 6/24.

Last time the Bucs hit five round trippers in one game was 7/12/08. Damage was done then by Jason Michaels, Nate McLouth, Adam LaRoche and Jason Bay (2). None of them is still a Bucco. Last time anyone on the current roster was involved in a five or more homer game was 8/22/07 when both Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson went deep against Colorado.

This was the fourth time in 2009 that Maholm allowed six or more earned runs. He did that just three times in all of 2008.

This was Jones’ third career three hit game and his second in July.

Doumit homered twice in a game for the first time since 6/10/08 when he connected twice off of Tim Redding of the Nationals. Doumit came into the game hitting just .216 in his career against Milwaukee. He hadn’t homered against the Brewers since doing it in consecutive games on 7/4/07 and 7/5/07.

Braun has more career RBI against Pittsburgh than against any other club.

 

 

Bucs End Losing Streak Against Milwaukee

The Pirates climbed all over Mike Burns early on as Delwyn Young hit a three run first inning homer. After two innings, the Pirates led 6-1 and then cruised until the 9th when Jesse Chavez gave up three runs.

Ross Ohlendorf was good enough, giving up a pair of sac flies in five innings. He allowed seven hits and two walks. He gave way to Jeff Karstens who threw three scoreless innings. There were some fireworks as Karstens was plunked in his lone AB, clearing both benches. There was bad blood going back to 4/27 when Karstens nailed Ryan Braun one at bat after Braun had homered.

Braun was at it again as his two run homer capped the scoring off Chavez.

Burns was the loser, lasting three and giving up six runs (four earned).

The Good

Ohlendorf kept the team in the game.

Andrew McCutchen had three hits and scored twice.

Garrett Jones homered again.

The Bad

Bucs hit into three double plays.

The Rest

Felipe Lopez, recently acquired by Milwaukee, had four hits in his Brewer debut.This was his 8th career 4 hit contest.

Jones now has 8 homers in 60 ABs.

Pittsburgh had lost 17 straight to Milwaukee.

Bucs End Losing Streak Against Milwaukee

The Pirates climbed all over Mike Burns early on as Delwyn Young hit a three run first inning homer. After two innings, the Pirates led 6-1 and then cruised until the 9th when Jesse Chavez gave up three runs.

Ross Ohlendorf was good enough, giving up a pair of sac flies in five innings. He allowed seven hits and two walks. He gave way to Jeff Karstens who threw three scoreless innings. There were some fireworks as Karstens was plunked in his lone AB, clearing both benches. There was bad blood going back to 4/27 when Karstens nailed Ryan Braun one at bat after Braun had homered.

Braun was at it again as his two run homer capped the scoring off Chavez.

Burns was the loser, lasting three and giving up six runs (four earned).

The Good

Ohlendorf kept the team in the game.

Andrew McCutchen had three hits and scored twice.

Garrett Jones homered again.

The Bad

Bucs hit into three double plays.

The Rest

Felipe Lopez, recently acquired by Milwaukee, had four hits in his Brewer debut.This was his 8th career 4 hit contest.

Jones now has 8 homers in 60 ABs.

Pittsburgh had lost 17 straight to Milwaukee.

Jones Does it Again (Twice)

Garrett Jones stroked two solo homers – one in the first and one in the 14th to end it. His blast in the 14th bounced into the river. Those were the only runs the Pirates scored, but it was good enough.

Paul Maholm and Tim Lincecum locked horns. Lincecum gave up the first homer, but otherwise was stingy, whiffing 10 and allowing just four other hits and no walks in seven innings. Maholm went 8 and gave up four hits and no walks while striking out seven.

Maholm’s lone run was unearned. It in the 7th with runners on the corners. Maholm’s pitched bounced away from Ryan Doumit, who quickly gathered it. With Pablo Sandoval trying to take second and two outs, Doumit fired to Freddy Sanchez in time. But the ball bounced off Sanchez’ glove. With the speedy Randy Winn moving early on the throw, he scored the tying run easily. That all set up Jones’ heroics.

His second homer came off of Bobby Howry and made a winner of Evan Meek who had pitched a scoreless inning.

The Good

A win

Jones – swing from your heels!

The Bad

The offense. Guh.

Brandon Moss was easily gunned down at home in the 7th on a single from Jack Wilson

Joel Hanrahan was allowed to pitch when the game was close and put two on with one gone in the 13th. He was pulled for Jesse Chavez who put out the fire.

The Rest

The win was Meek’s first career victory. He has given up just one run in his last nine innings over nine appearances. He joins Ross Ohlendorf, Virgil Vasquez, Steven Jackson and Charlie Morton in picking up their first career win as a Buc in 2009.

This was the first two homer game in Jones’ career. He has now homered in four straight games.

Lincecum’s only other career appearance came in his rookie year on 8-11-07. He was beaten by Tony Armas Jr. of all people.

This was the first time Maholm didn’t walk a batter all year. He had five such starts last year.

Garrett Jones Should Swing From His Heels Every AB

Garrett Jones turned 28 last month. He has spent most of the last year-and-a-half in the minors. During that time he has consistently put up some solid power numbers – averaging 20 homers and 30 doubles during full AAA seasons.

Prior to this year, his MLB experience consisted of 84 PAs, a .208 BA and a 60 OPS+. Prior to this year, it wouldn’t have been unheard of for him to have never seen the light of a Major League field again. Yet, here he is. And he is producing. In 11 games he has five home runs and has scored nine times. He has homered in three straight games.

Without being cruel, he is a fringe player on a last place club. This might be his last chance to forge a name for himself. So, given that this club isn’t going anywhere, I suggest that he try to homer every time up. Swing from his heels and leave his shoes behind. Turn into Dave Kingman. It won’t hurt the team in any appreciable manner – maybe they’ll lose or win a couple of more depending on how much success he has. Who knows, maybe he’ll hit a homer in 8 straight games. Maybe he’ll hit 20 second half homers and make a run for the Rookie of the Year and then follow in the footsteps of Kevin Maas and Bob Hamelin.

That’s my hope for the second half – that a fringe Rookie who wasn’t even on the 40 man roster this time last year tries to crush one every time up in an attempt to make a name for himself.

Garrett Jones Should Swing From His Heels Every AB

Garrett Jones turned 28 last month. He has spent most of the last year-and-a-half in the minors. During that time he has consistently put up some solid power numbers – averaging 20 homers and 30 doubles during full AAA seasons.

Prior to this year, his MLB experience consisted of 84 PAs, a .208 BA and a 60 OPS+. Prior to this year, it wouldn’t have been unheard of for him to have never seen the light of a Major League field again. Yet, here he is. And he is producing. In 11 games he has five home runs and has scored nine times. He has homered in three straight games.

Without being cruel, he is a fringe player on a last place club. This might be his last chance to forge a name for himself. So, given that this club isn’t going anywhere, I suggest that he try to homer every time up. Swing from his heels and leave his shoes behind. Turn into Dave Kingman. It won’t hurt the team in any appreciable manner – maybe they’ll lose or win a couple of more depending on how much success he has. Who knows, maybe he’ll hit a homer in 8 straight games. Maybe he’ll hit 20 second half homers and make a run for the Rookie of the Year and then follow in the footsteps of Kevin Maas and Bob Hamelin.

That’s my hope for the second half – that a fringe Rookie who wasn’t even on the 40 man roster this time last year tries to crush one every time up in an attempt to make a name for himself.