J-Mac Great, Offense Bad

     James McDonald pitched eight strong giving up a run while striking out eight but the offense couldn't capitalize on two big opportunities and the Bucs lose 1-0 to the Astros.

     J-Mac had yet another outing of giving up a run or less with that run coming in the second when the Bucs elected to get the 5-4-3 double play instead of gunning the runner out at the plate. I'm fine with that play because it came so early and many of us were saying, "Hey, we can easily get that back". Boy, were we wrong. That would be the only real trouble J-Mac would get into the rest of the way. He almost got into more trouble in the sixth when Jed Lowrie hit a shot off the wall but he was gunned down trying to stretch it into the triple. It was a great relay from Tabata to Walker to Alvarez for the putout. Jared Hughes would pitch a perfect ninth.

     There really isn't much to say about the offense, unless we want this to be an R-rated blog. They had four hits and wasted two big opportunities in the fourth and sixth innings. Jose Tabata led off the fourth with a triple but Nate McLouth would follow with a pop-out to third. Cutch would follow with a grounder to shortstop Jed Lowrie who would gun down Jose at home. The Buccos would again threaten in the sixth after loading the bases with no out. The Barge would double and be moved to third by way of a Clint Barmes single. J-Mac would reach by way of an error on his sac bunt to load them up but the top of the order would go strikeout, pop out, strikeout to end any hope. That would be the last time they threatened.

Starters Lines
McDonald: (L, 2-2) 8 IN, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K's (1 to Norris)
Norris: (W, 3-1) 6 IN, 3 H, 8 K's (1 to McDonald)

Stud/Dud(s) of the Game
Stud: James McDonald - Kept the Buccos in the game with his Gem. Too bad he couldn't get any support.

Duds: The Pirate lineup with the exception of Rod Barajas, who had 2 of the team's 4 hits.

Turning Point
     The top of the order going strikeout, pop out, strikeout with the bases loaded in the sixth. All they needed was a fly to the outfield and didn't come close.