Giants "Hurdled" by Bucs

     Garrett Jones homered and the Pirates executed a successful suicide squeeze play as they defeated the Giants this afternoon 4-1.
     Kevin Correia went six innings while only giving up a run keeping the Bucco pitching staff atop the rankings in team ERA. The run came in the fifth after Brandon Belt led the inning off with a double and scored after two ground outs. He also experienced some trouble with two outs in the third and sixth innings but was able to get a ground out both times to get out of it. Ryan Vogelsong was just as effective but couldn't keep out of trouble in the second. Garrett Jones led off the second with a towering shot to right to get the Bucs on the board. Vogelsong would then load the bases up on two singles and a walk before giving up a single to Alex Presley to make it 2-0. 
    The game would then go to the bullpens where the trio of Hughes, Grilli, and Hanrahan would shut the Giants out while only giving up two hits. Both Hughes and Grilli were able to cancel out lead-off extra base hits. Hanrahan would allow two walks in the ninth before getting back-to-back fly-outs to end it.
    The Giants bullpen would not be as effective as they would allow two runs in the eighth. Back-to-back singles by Cutch and McGehee would lead off the inning. Neil Walker would then single on a bunt and Cutch would score on a throwing error by Pablo Sandoval. (I don't know who was worse in this series; Sandoval's fielding or Pedro's hitting) Josh Harrison would then come to the plate and lay down a perfect suicide squeeze scoring McGehee and finish the scoring. 

Starters Lines
Correia: (W 1-0) 6 IN, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's (1 to Vogelsong)
Vogelsong: (L 0-1) 6 1/3 IN, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K's (1 to Correia)

Stud/Dud of the game
Stud: Alex Presley - He went 2-4 with a walk and an RBI
Dud: Pedro Alvarez - 0-3 with 2 K's


Turning Point
     The Giants had the tieing run on second with only one out in the seventh and one on third with two out but Jared Hughes would get pinch-hitter Aubrey Huff to fly out to end the threat. The Buccos would score two insurance runs the next inning to put it away.

Final Thoughts
-- Today's win marks the first road win of the 2012 season. It also breaks a 5-game losing streak.

-- The single run given up by Pirate pitching dropped the team ERA to 2.57. Good for fifth in the Majors behind Washington (1.99), Texas (2.30), NY Mets (2.48), Philly (2.55)

-- Pedro Alvarez struck out two more times today bringing his season total to 12 in 6 games.

     The Bucs will now travel to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks starting tomorrow. (Erik Bedard 0-2, 2.25 ERA vs. Joe Saunders 0-0, 0.00 ERA) 9:40 PM. TV: Root Sports, Radio: Pirates Radio Network

This day in 1992
     The Bucs defeated the Cubs 7-2. Randy Tomlin (2-0) went 6 IN, allowing 2 runs (both earned) on seven hits with 1 strikeout. Lloyd McClendon had a pinch-hit 2 RBI single while Mike LaValliere went 3-3 with 2 runs and a walk.
     Andy Van Slyke went 0-4 with a RBI, walk, and a strikeout.