Buccos open homestand with loss

     Kevin Correia helped the pen by going seven but allowed five runs in a 6-1 loss to the Reds in the first of a three game set.

     Correia allowed three of the five runs to score with two outs. A bunt single in the second, a double in the fourth and a single in the fifth. The last two would come by way of back-to-back homers in the seventh by Zack Cozart and Drew Stubbs. Correia would finish the inning before handing the ball over to Chris Resop. Correia finished with 107 pitches on 71 strikes. This could explain the reason for the back-to-back shots, but with the bullpen being used as much as it did during the last three days you need a starter to extend his innings past their "comfort zone". This should help the pen for the rest of the nine game homestand.
     Resop would come in for the eighth and give up a lead-off shot to Jay Bruce to close out the scoring. He would get into more trouble in the ninth by walking three before ending the threat by getting a pop-out.

     The Bucco offense would only get one chance to break the scoreboard against Johnny Cueto who has been lights-out against the Pirates over his career. That one chance came in the fourth. After lead-off singles by Nate McLouth and Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez sent a sac-fly to left to cut the score to 2-1. Garrett Jones would then erase Walker by way of a fielders choice before Clint Barmes double down the line to left. Jones would be given the green light home and be thrown out by a good five feet. With two-out and the 8 hitter on deck I think it wasn't a bad idea to send Jones. Cueto would only allow two base runners the rest of the way in a complete game effort.

Starters Lines
Correia: (L, 1-2) 7 IN, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's (1 to Cueto)
Cueto: (W, 4-0) CG, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K's

Turning Point
   Jones being sent home on the Barmes double. If Jones is held at third then you would have second and third with two out and Barajas at the plate. Like I said earlier I liked sending Jones because A)The Reds would have walked Barajas to get to Correia. B) Barajas hasn't established his hitting at all yet. He's batting .140 on the season.

Stud/Dud of the game
Stud: Nate McLouth - 2-4 with two singles and a run scored.

Dud: Chris Resop - 2 IN, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K (To Cueto)

Final Thoughts
-- The Pirates are 7-8 over their last 15 games. Good enough for the ones eyeing .500, but is that even good enough?.

-- Only Clint Barmes, Rod Barajas, and Josh Harrison are hitting under the Mendoza line. (Harrison only points under the line) This is looking a lot better than around this time a week ago.

-- Two games of six run's given up along with the horror show that was Wednesday night has jumped the team ERA to 3.44, which is down to 10th in the majors. (8th in the NL) 

This day in '92 - 12-5 W @ CIN
     Dennis Lamp got win #1 in an innings work of relief for Zane Smith, who gave up five in five innings. Six Pirates would have RBI's in the game, led by Jose Lind's 3, followed by Van Slyke with 2, and four others with 1.
     Andy Van Slyke would go 4-5 with a double, 2 RBI's and a run scored. That would bump his avg. to .342 on the season.