Bucs Find A Way

     Clint Hurdle said it best, "This is probably as satisfying a win as we've had since I've been here." and I think he's right.
    
     The game was a back-and-forth battle like Rocky fighting Drago. Jay Bruce got Cinci on the board first with a solo shot. Presley and Walker would respond in the fourth with back-to-back doubles followed by a GFJ sac fly to make it 2-1 Bucs. Ryan Ludwick would tie it again in the fifth with a solo shot on the first pitch. The Bucs would again go back in front by playing small ball in the sixth. Presley would lead off with a single and be moved to third by way of two outs. GFJ would get him in with a single making it 3-2. Again, the Reds would tie it by way of three straight singles while chasing starter Kevin Correia.
    
     Jared Hughes would come in and retire the next three to stop the bleeding and keep it tied. The next half inning would see the Bucs take their third lead at 4-3 when Jose Tabata would lead off with a single. He would be bunted to second but on the play Brandon Phillips would turn away from the play allowing Tabata to reach third. The Fort would score him on a sac fly. The lead would remain that way until the ninth when Ludwick, again, homered on the first pitch off of The Hammer to tie it at 4.
     
     We all were expecting to see a quick top of the tenth when the Reds went to shut-down closer Aroldis Chapman. We would all be surprised though when Clint Barmes took the at-bat to seven pitches before crushing a 91mph slider into the left center field gap for a double. The Fort would be just as surprising knocking a 99mph fastball into the right center field gap to give the Battlin' Buccos the lead for good at 5-4. Chris Resop would get the save after allowing a lead-off double to Joey Votto. The game would end on a Ludwick strike out looking. A pretty fitting ending considering what the former Bucco did to us twice earlier.

     This game had a nerve racking playoff feel to it. I, honestly haven't been able to witness a Pirate game like this before where two teams fighting for the division lead are matching each other blow-for-blow. Yes, last year we had the McKenry homer against the Cubs and the 1-0 victory over the Reds to put us into first but there wasn't that game where the Pirates beat the team they were chasing in the standings and in a game where it seemed they couldn't pull away until the very, very end. It is a great time to be a Pirate fan and I hope you all make your way to PNC this weekend to watch them take on the Royals. After the way they battled to win this series I'll be there.

Few Notes:
     --Dejan Kovacevic from The Trib posted a very good article about Clint Hurdle. It shows the leadership role that has the Buccos in the right mindset for a fight at the division. Here's the link.

     http://triblive.com/sports/columnists/1920576-74/hurdle-clint-pirates-mckenry-barajas-gayo-laughing-park-players-banister

     --Jeff Karstens left his rehab start tonight with tightness in his right groin. Be prepared to see Lincoln make another start or a move from "AAA".