Offense fails to show in loss

     Erik Bedard and Chad Billingsley both continued their strong starts to the 2012 season as the Dodgers defeated the Pirates 4-1.
     Clint Barmes would open up the scoring with his first hit of the season in the third inning, A solo shot to left-center. This was the first inning that the Bucs held a lead. (Their two wins came from walk-offs) That wouldn't last long though, because the Dodgers would tie it up in the third with a walk and two singles after two quick outs.
     The Pirates seemed to be starting something in the sixth after back-to-back one-out singles by Nate and Cutch, but that would be quickly halted when Neil Walker lined to Andre Either who then quickly doubled up Nate at second. That was the fifth time this season that Pirate hitters have hit into double-plays (Cutch has 3).
     Bedard would get bounced from the game in the sixth after allowing three straight hits to Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera (Dribbler just past Bedard's glove), and Andre Ethier (RBI). That would be the only damage though, as Chris Resop and Tony Watson would shut the door. Also, good call by Hurdle in this situation by forcing Billingsley out for a pinch-hitter. (Poped out to Pedro to end inning). 
     The Dodgers would tack two more runs on in the seventh off of Evan Meek(1 ER) and Tony Watson (1 ER) while the Bucs could only get a single hit off of the Dodger bullpen through the last three innings.
   
     All in all this was a sloppy game. The score really doesn't represent the play by the Pirates tonight. Pedro had two bad throws, Neil dropped a clear pick-off at second, the offense was bad for the most, and the pitching wasn't as crisp as it was in the first series. If we want to do anything this year we are going to have to get it together fast or it's going to be a long season.
                    
                            Starters Lines
Bedard (L 0-2) - 5 IN, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's (1 to Billingsley)
Billingsley (W 2-0) - 6 IN, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K's

Stud/Dud of the game
Stud: Clint Barmes - First hit of the year goes for a solo-shot. Pretty much the only Bucco offense.
Dud: Evan Meek - Allowed two runners to cross the plate in the seventh inning.





Final Thoughts

--Alex Presley extended his season opening hit streak to 5 games with an eighth inning single off of Kenley Jansen.

--This is the first time this season that a Pirate Starter hasn't had a quality start.

-- Pirate 4-5-6 hitters (Walker, Jones, Barajas) were a combined 2-11 in the game.

The Pirates will look to salvage a game in the series tomorrow at 10:10 (Jeff Karstens vs. Chris Capuano)


This day in 1992
     Doug Drebek (1-1) picked up his first loss in a 7-4 decision to the Phillies. He went 6, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 base runners (4 H, 2 BB) and 7 strikeouts. Bonds and Buechele would both go 1-4 with an RBI and run each.
Andy Van Slyke went 0-3 with a walk.