Pirates Exercise Demons At Miller Park

     Kevin Correia went 5 2/3 only allowing two solo shots while getting plenty of offense in an 8-2 win in Milwaukee.

     It seemed like it would be another letdown by Correia as he allowed Nyjer Morgan to homer in the first but he settled down after and pitched well. He wouldn't allow another run until the sixth when Corey Hart would lead off the inning with another homer. He would be replaced by Doug Slaten with two on and two out and Slaten would only need one pitch to get out of it. Slaten, Hughes, Lincoln, Watson, and Cruz would all get work in the final 3 1/3 to preserve the victory.

     The offense continues to heat up as they knocked in eight runs on thirteen hits. The big inning came in the third when they put a six-spot on the board. J-Hay and Cutch led off the inning with back-to-back Trip...Trip...Triples followed by three singles by Walker, Hague, and The Barge. Jordy Mercer would walk to load the bases and Jose Tabata would send what would have seemed like a routine fly ball out to center, but Nyjer Morgan misplayed it horribly allowing the bases to clear. After the dust settled it was 6-1 Bucs. They would get the final two runs by way of a Cutch double in the eighth.

                                                                      Starters Lines
     Correia: (W, 2-5) 5 2/3 IN, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's
     Wolf: (L, 2-5) 6 IN, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 K's (1 to Correia)

                                                                      Turning Point
     Nyjer Morgan's botched fly ball with two out in the third. Tabata sent a liner out to Morgan who misplayed the fly ball and allowed it to go over his head. Three runs would score on the play making it 6-1.

                                                                 Stud/Dud of the Game
     Stud: Jose Tabata, 2-3, 2 doubles, 2 walks, 3 RBI's, 1 run. This is the offense output Jose needed after the slump/lack of effort that he's shown lately.

                                                                      Final Thoughts
  -- The Reds defeated the Astros tonight 4-1 while Johan Santana threw a no-no against the Cards. The Pirates are 3 behind the first place Reds while they are only a 1/2 game behind the Cards for second.

  -- Ryan Braun left tonight's game with a right hip strain, he will be day-to-day. Wouldn't sadden me one bit if he took a few days off just to make sure he's ok. 

  -- In the last two games A.J. Burnett and Kevin Correia are a combined 2-5 hitting with a walk and a run.

                                                                      This Day in '92
                                                                       L vs. LAD 8-6
     Denny Neagle gave up 3 runs in four innings of relief to pick up the loss. (2-3)
     Jose Lind went 2-3 with a single, 2 doubles, 2 RBI's, and a run. Jay Bell went 1-5 with a 2-RBI double and a run scored.
     Andy Van Slyke went 2-5 with a double and a RBI.