Barajas and Burnett Lift Bucs

     A.J. Burnett pitched eight strong while striking out ten and Rod Barajas hit a walk-off blast as the Buccos beat the Nationals 5-4.

     Burnett set down the first six batters of the game before allowing a lead-off homer to Wilson Ramos in the third. He would allow another run in the fourth before settling down. Bryce Harper led the inning off with a double and would score four batters later by way of a Rick Ankiel single.  A.J. would then pitch the last four innings scoreless only allowing a single and a walk. Joel Hanrahan would come in for the ninth and allow a single to Ryan Zimmerman followed by a go-ahead homer by Adam LaRoche. He would get the next two outs before being replaced by Tony Watson who would allow a single before recording the final out. Watson is credited with the win.

     The offense would be led by three longballs on the five hits they recorded. In the fourth inning, Andrew McCutchen would hit his first of the season and two batters later Garret would hit his fourth to tie the game at two. The Bucs would then take the lead for a moment in the eighth when Nate McLouth reached by a walk, then moved to third on an error. Neil Walker would score him with a sac-fly to right. The Bucs would win it in the ninth after Alex Presley hit a one-out bloop single. He would reach third on two wild pitches by closer Henry Rodriguez and Rod Barajas would end it with a two-out shot just inside of the left field foul pole to Raise It.

     I'll be in attendance to tomorrow night's game. More to come on that tomorrow via Twitter @TheLumberCo.


Starters Lines
Burnett: 8 IN, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K's
Jackson: 7 IN, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's (1 to Burnett)

Turning Point
     Barajas walk-off homer. After being booed earlier in the game, Barajas put PNC Park into a frenzy with his blast that barely squeaked inside the left field foul pole. He would then get the first A.J. Burnett pie in-the-face as a Bucco.

Stud/Dud of the game
Stud: Rod Barajas - Only hit was the deciding one.

Dud: Joel Hanrahan - Unable to close down the game and almost got the loss. (2/3 IN 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER 1 K)

Final Thoughts
-- This win is big for this series. It allows them to go for the series victory tomorrow before having to face Stephen Strasburg on Thursday.

-- Rod's walk-off was the fifth Pirate homer in three games. (Barajas, McCutchen, Jones, Walker, Presley)

-- Tonight's win puts the Bucs at 13-16. Last year, the Bucs were 14-15 after 29 games.


This Day in '92 - W vs. HOU 6-3
     Drabek went seven but Stan Belinda picked up win #1 by pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth.
     Orlando Merced hit a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double in the eighth to preserve the win. Don Slaught went 2-3 with a single, triple, intentional walk, RBI, and two runs scored. 
     Andy Van Slyke went 0-3 with an RBI.