Hague and Burnett Get Bucs Back to .500

     A.J. Burnett continues to dominate as he goes seven innings in a 2-1 victory over the first place Reds.

     Burnett, again got into trouble in the first by allowing a lead-off double followed by a Pedro Alvarez throwing error setting up first and third. Two batters later, Brandon Phillips hit a sac fly to make it 1-0. That would be the only run because Burnett would retire the next fifteen batters on way to seven strong while only allowing five base runners. Jason Grilli would pitch a perfect eighth striking out two and the Hammer would strike out two to get save number thirteen.

     The offense would be held at bay by Reds starter Johnny Cueto as he went seven strong as well. The Bucs got a one-out triple by Garrett Jones in the second and had the bases loaded with two-out but couldn't capitalize. They would capitalize on their only other chance of the game in the sixth. With two-out, Neil Walker drew a walk and Jones would follow with a single setting up Matt Hague with his second chance to get the Bucs on the board. He would succeed by sending a 2-1 cutter off the right-center field scoring both runners.

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

                                                                       Turning Point
     Hague's 2-run double in the sixth - After stranding a runner on third in his first at bat, Hague would succeed by sending a shot off of the right-center field wall scoring the only two runs for the Bucs.

                                                                  Stud/Dud of the Game
     Stud: Matt Hague - 1-3, Double, 2 RBI's

     Dud: Jose Tabata - 0-4, 4 LOB. Although Cutch and Pedro went 0-4 with a strikeout each, they didn't leave 4 runners on base like Jose did.

                                                                       Final Thoughts
     -- The Buccos are 25-25 after 50 games this season while averaging 2.94 runs per game. (via @DavidManel)

     -- Jordy Mercer made his first career start at short tonight going 1-4 (first career hit) while making some nice plays in the field as well. Could this be the end of Barmes as starter? Stay tuned.

     -- Another struggling Bucco is Jose Tabata who went 0-4 tonight. His average has dropped to .216. I, personally, was looking for Harrison to start in place of Tabata.

                                                                       This Day in '92
                                                                         W vs. SF 3-2
     Doug Drabek went nine innings but got a no decision as the Pirates walked-off in the tenth. Denny Neagle picked up the win with an inning of relief.
     Jay Bell went 2-5 with 2 doubles, an RBI, and a strikeout. Don Slaught knocked in the winning run by way of a sac fly in the tenth.
     Andy Van Slyke had the day off.