Pirates win another one-run contest

     Andrew McCutchen's two-out, RBI single in the ninth beats the Diamondbacks 5-4 in a weird, back-and-forth battle at Chase Field.
   
     Jeff Karstens only lasted one inning as he had to leave the game due to right shoulder inflammation. He gave up two runs (both earned) on three hits. Jared Hughes would pitch the next 2 2/3 innings giving up an earned run on three hits and two walks. Tony Watson and Evan Meek would come in to throw 3 1/3 innings of perfect ball. The only other blemish would be a game tieing solo shot by John McDonald off of Jason Grilli in the eighth. Juan Cruz would close the game out with a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save since May, 24 2009. Hanrahan did not make an appearance in the ninth due to a tweaked hamstring that he encountered on the last pitch on Sunday in SF.

     The offense would be led by the 3-4-5 hitters (Cutch, Walker, Jones) who, combined, were 10-14 with a HR, 5 RBI's, and 4 runs. GFJ had the meat of the RBI's with 3 by way of a single, double, and solo shot into the pool in right-center. Cutch would be clutch with a two out RBI single in the ninth which would be the deciding factor.  

Pitching Lines
Karstens: 1 IN, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Bucco Bullpen: 8 IN, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K's
Kennedy: 6 IN, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 K's (1 to Karstens)
Stud/Dud of the game
Stud: Garrett Jones - 3-4, HR, 3 RBI's, and a run. He was a triple shy of the cycle.
Dud: Jason Grilli - Gave up a game tieing solo shot in the eighth.

Turning Point
    After an Alex Presley two-out infield single and Casey McGehee single, Andrew McCutchen would hit a game-winning RBI single in the ninth.

Final Thoughts
  -- We saw our first major #Hurdled moment of the year in the seventh inning after a Jose Tabata walk to lead off the inning. He would then have Presley bunt which ended in a pop up to the third baseman. Tabata would later be caught trying to swipe second.

-- The Buccos knocked out a season-best 13 hits and 5 runs in the win.

-- Pedro Alvarez went 0-4 (no strikeouts though) and had a nice drive to the left-center wall that would be hunted down and caught by Chris Young (Young would be hurt on the play). Alvarez is now batting .043 for the season.

-- The Bucs hold a ML record with their eleventh straight game to start a season without scoring or giving up more than five runs in a game.

     The Pirates will finish their 9-game west coast swing with the rubber match against the Diamondbacks at 3:40 tomorrow (James McDonald 0-1, 3.86 ERA will face Daniel Hudson 1-0, 8.71 ERA). 

This day in 1992
     Doug Drabek picks up win #2 with a 7-4 victory over the Phillies. He would go 7 giving up 4 runs (all earned) on 8 hits and 3 walks, he struck out 6. Stan Belinda recorded save #3.
     Steve Buechele went 2-4 with a RBI and 2 runs scored. Andy Van Slyke added a RBI while going 1-4.