Pitch By Pitch

The Pirates are 12-12, but they have a tough road ahead. Their next 10 are against the Brewers, Cardinals, and Mets.

The Brewers put their 15 game winning streak against the Bucs on the line tonight.

It should be a good pitchers’ duel with Yovani Gallardo @ Paul Maholm, 7:05 P.M. at PNC Park.

Ryan Braun will not be playing tonight because he will be having an MRI on his back.

Last week, Jeff Karstens hit Braun in the back with a pitch. Braun thought it was an intentional beaning, and Karstens was fined by MLB for the pitch. Karstens has appealed.

Today, John Russell said, “We haven’t thought about it. Obviously they said a few things about it. Our guy got fined. They hit three guys the next day. So I wouldn’t think there’s anything on their side. We obviously don’t want to make a big issue of it. We just want to go out and play baseball. I would think it should be over.”

Live Updates:

Inning 1

Away
Corey Hart singles on a ground ball to second baseman Freddy Sanchez.
J. Hardy singles on a ground ball to left fielder Nyjer Morgan. Corey Hart to 2nd.
Rickie Weeks flies out to right fielder Brandon Moss. Corey Hart to 3rd.
Prince Fielder grounds into a force out, first baseman Adam LaRoche to shortstop Ramon Vazquez. Corey Hart scores. J. Hardy out at 2nd. Prince Fielder to 1st.
Mike Cameron grounds into a force out, third baseman Andy LaRoche to second baseman Freddy Sanchez. Prince Fielder out at 2nd.

Home
Nyjer Morgan flies out to right fielder Corey Hart.
Freddy Sanchez lines out to left fielder Bill Hall.
Nate McLouth flies out to left fielder Bill Hall.

Inning 2

Away
Bill Hall flies out to center fielder Nate McLouth.
Casey McGehee grounds out, third baseman Andy LaRoche to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Jason Kendall grounds out, pitcher Paul Maholm to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Home
Defensive Substitution: Chris Duffy replaces left fielder Bill Hall, batting 6th, playing left field.
Adam LaRoche walks.
Brandon Moss triples (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Chris Duffy. Adam LaRoche scores.
Andy LaRoche grounds out, third baseman Casey McGehee to first baseman Prince Fielder.
Ramon Vazquez walks.
Jason Jaramillo lines out to shortstop J. Hardy.
Paul Maholm walks. Ramon Vazquez to 2nd.
Nyjer Morgan grounds into a force out, second baseman Rickie Weeks to shortstop J. Hardy. Paul Maholm out at 2nd.

Inning 3

Away
Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Bill Hall left the game due to an injured leg.
Yovani Gallardo strikes out swinging.
Corey Hart strikes out swinging.
J. Hardy flies out to left fielder Nyjer Morgan.

Home
Freddy Sanchez pops out to second baseman Rickie Weeks.
Nate McLouth singles on a ground ball to right fielder Corey Hart.
Adam LaRoche flies out to left fielder Chris Duffy.
Brandon Moss pops out to third baseman Casey McGehee.

Inning 4

Away
Rickie Weeks singles on a line drive to center fielder Nate McLouth.
With Prince Fielder batting, passed ball by Jason Jaramillo, Rickie Weeks to 2nd.
Prince Fielder singles on a line drive to center fielder Nate McLouth. Rickie Weeks to 3rd.
Mike Cameron pops out to second baseman Freddy Sanchez.
Chris Duffy called out on strikes.
Casey McGehee grounds into a force out, shortstop Ramon Vazquez to second baseman Freddy Sanchez. Prince Fielder out at 2nd.

Home
Andy LaRoche homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
Ramon Vazquez grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.
Jason Jaramillo grounds out, second baseman Rickie Weeks to first baseman Prince Fielder.
Paul Maholm called out on strikes.

Inning 5

Away
Jason Kendall grounds out, shortstop Ramon Vazquez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Yovani Gallardo lines out to shortstop Ramon Vazquez.
Corey Hart doubles (7) on a ground ball to left fielder Nyjer Morgan.
J. Hardy grounds out, second baseman Freddy Sanchez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Home
Nyjer Morgan grounds out, second baseman Rickie Weeks to first baseman Prince Fielder.
Freddy Sanchez doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Corey Hart.
Nate McLouth singles on a ground ball to center fielder Mike Cameron. Freddy Sanchez scores.
Adam LaRoche called out on strikes.
Brandon Moss pops out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

Inning 6

Away
Rickie Weeks strikes out swinging.
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging.
Mike Cameron grounds out, shortstop Ramon Vazquez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Home
Andy LaRoche lines out to pitcher Yovani Gallardo.
Ramon Vazquez strikes out swinging.
Jason Jaramillo hits a ground-rule double (6) on a fly ball down the left-field line.
Paul Maholm called out on strikes.

Inning 7

Away
Chris Duffy grounds out to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Casey McGehee grounds out, pitcher Paul Maholm to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Jason Kendall singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nate McLouth.
Yovani Gallardo strikes out swinging.

Home
Nyjer Morgan strikes out swinging.
Freddy Sanchez doubles (12) on a line drive to left fielder Chris Duffy.
Nate McLouth grounds out, pitcher Yovani Gallardo to first baseman Prince Fielder. Freddy Sanchez to 3rd.
Adam LaRoche flies out to center fielder Mike Cameron.

Inning 8

Away
Corey Hart strikes out swinging.
J. Hardy walks.
Pitcher Change: Tyler Yates replaces Paul Maholm, batting 9th.
Rickie Weeks strikes out swinging.
Pitcher Change: John Grabow replaces Tyler Yates, batting 9th.
Prince Fielder singles on a line drive to center fielder Nate McLouth. J. Hardy to 2nd.
Mike Cameron walks. J. Hardy to 3rd. Prince Fielder to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Braun replaces Chris Duffy.
Ryan Braun doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Brandon Moss. J. Hardy scores. Prince Fielder scores. Mike Cameron to 3rd.
Casey McGehee strikes out swinging.

Home
Ryan Braun remains in the game as the left fielder.
Pitcher Change: Mark DiFelice replaces Yovani Gallardo, batting 9th.
Brandon Moss flies out to center fielder Mike Cameron.
Andy LaRoche lines out to center fielder Mike Cameron.
Ramon Vazquez singles on a line drive to right fielder Corey Hart.
Jason Jaramillo doubles (7) on a fly ball to right fielder Corey Hart. Ramon Vazquez scores.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Delwyn Young replaces John Grabow.
Delwyn Young flies out to left fielder Ryan Braun.

Inning 9

Away
Pitcher Change: Matt Capps replaces John Grabow, batting 9th.
Jason Kendall singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nate McLouth.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Craig Counsell replaces Mark DiFelice.
Craig Counsell singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brandon Moss. Jason Kendall to 2nd.
Corey Hart walks. Jason Kendall to 3rd. Craig Counsell to 2nd.
J. Hardy out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Nate McLouth. Jason Kendall scores. Craig Counsell to 3rd.
Rickie Weeks homers (6) on a fly ball to left field. Craig Counsell scores. Corey Hart scores.
Prince Fielder strikes out on foul tip.
Mike Cameron flies out to center fielder Nate McLouth.

Home
Pitcher Change: Trevor Hoffman replaces Mark DiFelice, batting 9th.
Nyjer Morgan flies out to center fielder Mike Cameron.
Freddy Sanchez grounds out, pitcher Trevor Hoffman to second baseman Rickie Weeks to first baseman Prince Fielder.
Nate McLouth singles on a ground ball to shortstop J. Hardy.
Adam LaRoche grounds out, second baseman Rickie Weeks to first baseman Prince Fielder.

It’s not like the Pirates deserved a 5-1 lead midway through last night’s game, and so it wasn’t entirely surprising when it disappeared. Two runs scored after a Brewer error helped to keep the 3rd inning alive. Two runs came in the 5th on a Jason Jaramillo double immediately after Eric Hinske and Andy LaRoche were hit by pitches.

Paul Maholm didn’t have the same command that he had in his 3 wins this season. He walked 5 batters and gave up 7 hits over his 5.1 innings of work.

Walks have been a problem in the last two games against the Brewers. Pirate pitchers have given up 17 walks in 16 innings (1.06 BB/Inn). Prior to this series, Pirate pitchers had given up 65 walks in 158 innings (0.41 BB/Inn). The Brewers walked just one batter last night.

Another subplot for this series has been the beaned batters. Things started to get ugly in the series opening game on Monday when Jeff Karstens seemingly intentionally hit Ryan Braun (who homered in his first at-bat of the game) to start the 3rd inning. Braun was quite upset by the pitch, and John Hirschbeck warned both benches. Later in the game, Jason Kendall was hit by Jesse Chavez in the 6th and by Evan Meek in the 8th, but no ejections were made. After the game, Ryan Braun had this to say:

Asked if Karstens drilled him intentionally, Braun said, “Probably, yeah. It’s rare for major-league pitchers to miss by that much with a fastball.”

Then, issuing a not-so-wise warning to the commissioner’s office, Braun added, “We play them about 17 more times (actually 13). Tell Mr. Selig, we’ll see what happens. It’s going to be interesting.”

Last night, Brewers’ starter Dave Bush hit three Pirate batters (Freddy Sanchez in the 1st and Eric Hinske and Andy LaRoche in the 5th).

There’s something to keep an eye on in the next 13 Brewers/Pirates matchups.

The Pirates managed 7 hits last night, and they came from an unlikely crew: the RBI double by Jaramillo, Brian Bixler avenged his 4K night by going 2-4, Ramon Vazquez singled in his only at-bat, Eric Hinske had a 2 RBI double, and Brandon Moss and Freddy Sanchez added hits.

If you’re keeping track at home, you can make that 17 consecutive losses at Miller Park for the Buccos. They try to reverse the trend at 1:05 today.

Ryan Braun threatens the Pirates

This game was not pretty and not a fun one to listen to, but despite it all, the Pirates still found themselves with a chance to win late in the game.

The Bucs scored 2 runs in the top half of the first inning thanks to four consecutive singles from the top of our order, followed by a J.J. Hardy error. Jeff Karstens looked bad in his 5 innings of work, and he served up the Brewer hitters early and often. He gave up 5 runs on 3 homers in the first three innings.

Jesse Chavez and Evan Meek each pitched a scoreless inning, and the Pirate bats fought for 2 runs in the top of the eighth to tie the score at 5-5.

Then, the bullpen collapsed.

Coming into tonight, John Grabow was 1-0, pitching 10 innings for 8H, 0R, 0ER, 3 BB, and 10K. Tonight, he pitched 1/3 of an inning for 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 0K.

Tyler Yates’ struggles continued last night. He pitched 1/3 of an inning for 0H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, and 0K. His ERA for the season is up to 9.95.

Sean Burnett entered to get the final out of the 8th, but it was too little, too late. The damage was done.

Brian Bixler played shortstop in place of the injured Jack Wilson. He went 0-4 with 4K.

Positives from tonight: Adam LaRoche, Nyjer Morgan, and Freddy Sanchez continue their hot hitting. Andy LaRoche has an 11 game hit streak.

The Pirates have now lost 16 consecutive games at Miller Park! That’s just ridiculous, and it needs to end tonight.

Paul Maholm @ Dave Bush – 8:05

Miller Park: Not a Friendly Place

I didn’t get to see or hear much Pirate baseball this weekend because I was in State College, PA for the Blue/White game, Penn State Football’s annual spring scrimmage. The weekend is really more about tailgating and enjoying the outdoors, but a reminder that college football season is on its way isn’t a bad thing either.

The Pirates were in San Diego for a 3 game series this weekend. Despite a mess of injuries, the Bucs found a way to win 2 out of 3 games and claim their third consecutive series win. Nate McLouth didn’t play at all this weekend due to an injured right oblique. It doesn’t sound like this injury will require a trip to the DL, but the team decided to keep McLouth out for precautionary reasons. Jack Wilson was sent to the DL because of the injured left middle finger that has been bothering him over the past week. Brian Bixler was called up to replace Wilson, and Bixler will likely split time at shortstop with Ramon Vazquez. Finally, Craig Hansen was sent to the DL because of neck spasms. Evan Meek was called up to replace Hansen.

Game 16 – The series opened with a tough loss for the Bucs. Pittsburgh used every pitcher that they had available before losing 4-3 in 11 innings. Ian Snell only lasted 5 and 1/2 innings. The relievers pitched 5 scoreless innings until Matt Capps walked 2 in the 11th and former Pirate, Brian Giles hit a game winning double.

Game 17 – Zach Duke looked strong once again to claim his 3rd win of the season. The Bucs dominated the Padres from start to finish in this game and took home the 10-1 victory. Duke pitched 8 and 1/3 inning, giving up 6 hits and 1 ER. He got plenty of support from his own batters with Freddy Sanchez going 3-5, Craig Monroe going 3-5, Eric Hinske going 2-3, Andy LaRoche going 2-4, and Jason Jaramillo going 2-4.

Game 18 – Ross Ohlendorf out-pitched Jake Peavy, and Adam LaRoche hit 2 home runs to lead the Bucs to an 8-3 win over the Padres. Ohlendorf pitched 7 innings, giving up 5 hits and 3 ER. John Grabow finished up the final two innings. Andy LaRoche went 2-5 to extend his consecutive game hitting streak to 10. So much for that slow start!

The Pirates are now 11-7, and they have already seen strong pitching performances from all of their starters. It sure looks like Pitching Coach, Joe Kerrigan is doing a lot of the right things.

With this series win, the Pirates are now 4 games over .500. That hasn’t happened since 2002. Also, the Pirates are now assured of a winning record in the month of April. That’s happened just twice in the last 15 years.

One final note from the weekend. Dave Davidson was claimed off waivers by the Florida Marlins. Only time will tell if this means anything.

A 3 game series with the Milwaukee Brewers is next. Let’s hope that our injury depleted Pittsburgh Pirates can find a way to keep the wins coming.

Monday – Jeff Karstens @ Braden Looper – 8:05 P.M.
Tuesday – Paul Maholm @ Dave Bush – 8:05 P.M.
Wednesday – Ian Snell @ – Yovani Gallardo 1:05 P.M.

Taking all 3 against the Marlins would certainly make a statement. We’ll find out soon enough.

Ricky Nolasco @ Paul Maholm.
First pitch is at 12:35.

Update: Yes we can!

Paul Maholm wasn’t as magical as he was in his first 3 starts, but it was good enough. 6 IP, 8H, 4R, 4K

Adam LaRoche was on fire, going 4-5 with an RBI. Even with Doumit out of the lineup, things seem to be going the Pirates’ way.

Now for a day off before opening a 3-game series against in San Diego. Keep it up, Buccos!

Ryan Doumit is going to be out for awhile. This is devastating.

The Florida Marlins are now 11-2. Let’s see if we can make them 11-3.

Anibal Sanchez @ Jeff Karstens – 7:05 PM

…oh yeah… Go Pens!

Post Game Update:
Wow… I’d have had trouble believing you if you told me that we’d win 2 against the Marlins with Ohlendorf and Karstens on the mound.
- The Marlins couldn’t hit Karstens tonight, as he only gave up 3H, 1R in 6 IP.
- This will be the Pirates’ 2nd consecutive series win. Let’s keep it rolling!
- Jason Jaramillo replaced the injured Ryan Doumit. He contributed with an RBI double.
- Remember Ronny Paulino? He played for the away team tonight.

Why not? Let’s go for the sweep tomorrow! Ricky Nolasco @ Paul Maholm. 12:35 PM

…oh yeah… congrats Pens! 3-1 win puts them up 3-1 on the Flyers. Close ‘em out.

The Pirates officially won their first series of the season when they took 2 out of 3 games from the Atlanta Braves. The Pirates scored 3-0 and 10-0 shutouts from strong pitching performances by Paul Maholm and Ian Snell. Zach Duke started the 3rd game of the series. Things got off to a bad start and never improved much. The Braves took the final game 11-1.

Some quick notes:

Game 10
Another great start for Paul Maholm. 7IP 4H.
Jack Wilson sat this game out with a sore finger.
Delwyn Young made his first at-bat as a Pirate. He entered as a pinch hitter and fouled out to the catcher.

Game 11
Another great start for Ian Snell. 7IP 4H.
Jack Wilson sat out again.
Craig Monroe had a 6 RBI game.
Andy LaRoche is using a new batting stance, and he seems to be figuring things out, going 3-4 with an RBI

Game 12
Zach Duke didn’t have a great start. 6IP 12H 6R.
Jack Wilson got back into the starting lineup. He went 1-3.
The Pirates had 7 hits, but they could only score 1 meaningless run in the 9th.
Delwyn Young played 2 innings in LF. He struck out swinging in the 8th.

After losing a disappointing series at home to the Houston Astros, the Atlanta Braves come to town for a weekend series.

The Pirates are going to need more strong starts from Maholm, Snell, and Duke to get back up and over .500.

Friday – Jair Jurrjens @ Paul Maholm – 7:05
Saturday – Jo Jo Reyes @ Ian Snell – 12:35
Sunday – Javier Vazquez @ Zach Duke – 1:35

I won’t see much of these games because I’m traveling to Boston tonight to see my girlfriend and sister run in the marathon on Monday. We’ve got tickets to Orioles @ Red Sox on Sunday afternoon!

Have a good weekend! Go Bucs!

I only got to see about an inning of today’s game on TV, as I opted to watch Purdue @ Penn State. There was no shortage of action, with the Nittany Lions winning 11-9 (31 total hits in the game).

Today was a nice win for the Pirates. Paul Maholm looked sharp for his second consecutive start. He allowed 3 hits and 1 run in 7 innings. He struck out 3, and after 2 starts, his season ERA is 1.32.

From the plate, Nyjer Morgan continued his hot start by going 3-4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Nate McLouth’s bat is coming alive, going 2-3 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. With a 5-1 lead in the 9th inning, Ryan Doumit added a grand slam and Adam LaRoche followed up with a homer of his own.

We’re still waiting for Andy LaRoche to get started. Today was another tough game, going 0-5. He’s still hitless in 2009.

With today’s win, the Pirates can’t finish this opening road trip any worse than .500.

Snell @ Aaron Harang is at 1:10 tomorrow. I’ll be at an Easter lunch with my family, so I probably won’t see or hear much from this game.

Go Bucs! Happy Easter!

It’s raining in Cincinnati. This game is postponed until a later date.

Until his next scheduled start, Jeff Karstens will move to the bullpen. Paul Maholm is scheduled to start tomorrow against Johnny Cueto.