The return of Ross the Boss

Ross pitched a phenomenal game last night.He went 7IP 5H 0R 8K 1BB (He has now pitched 13 straight scoreless innings) 64 of his 95 pitches were strikes.

It was his 1st win since Aug 18, 2009. (16 Consecutive starts without a win)   

He seems to be back to the 09 version of himself, which was dominant.

 

 

Me and Ross the Boss from last year:

• 

• Dotel picked up his 18th save (of 20) and opp hitters are batting just .125 against him.
• The Starters (last 5 gms) are 3-1 with a 1.11 ERA. The team ERA has been lowered from 5.30 to 5.18.
• The Pirates last 6 starts= 39.1 IP 4ER 0.92 ERA
• The more the merrier. (Home record with Larger crowds:

25,000                        12-4 (2009)        8-2 (2010)

30,000                        7-2 (2009)          5-0 (2010)

Tomorrow is standing room only, and sunday is expected to be a huge crowd as well. Looking good in the bucs favor. If only we had huge crowds every game. :-/

• Friday marked the 3rd consecutive game a Pirates starting pitcher recorded his 1st win of the season, as Daniel McCutchen beat the Phillies on thursday and Brad Lincoln beat the Cubs on Wed. That has happened only one other time after June 1st in ML History, when the Red Sox’s Smoky Joe Wood, King Brady, and Don McMahon each won his 1st start of the season Oct 3-6, 1908.
• Lowest ERA among Relief Pitchers: (minimum 30 innings pitched)

Jose Valverde 0.53 ERA

Mariano Rivera 0.89 ERA

Evan Meek 0.98 ERA

Arthur Rhodes 1.09 ERA

Billy Wagner 1.15 ERA

 

• Jamie Moyer has had 103 Career wins since turning 40 (2nd most) (Tabata, Alvarez and McCutchen were not alive when Moyer made his ML start, June 18, 1986.)

He went 6IP 5H 1ER 8K 2BB

• Pirates are now 19-11 vs Phillies all time at PNC Park. 8-5 at home vs Lefty Starters in 2010.
• They are now 22-0 after leading through 8IP.
• Howard, Rollins, Werth, Ibanez and Victorino are just 5 for 35 in losses to the Pirates.
• The Phillies have been shutout 8 times this season. On pace for 17 shutouts. That hasn’t happened to the Phils since 1971.
• McCutchen 2-3, BB, SB, Run
• Alvarez 1-4 (w/ a 5 gm hitting streak batting .263)

 

Other Pirates News:

The Pirates agree to terms with 16 round selection Matt Curry. The team has now signed 15 picks from this years draft.

JR on if he thinks Steven Strasburgh should be selected to the All Star Game: -Triblive

 

“I think (making) the All-Star Game is an honor,” Russell said. “Not to take anything away from Stephen Strasburg — he’s going to be an outstanding pitcher; he already is — but I look at the All-Star Game as (being for) guys who have put together a full first half of a season, who’ve been consistent and have shown what they can do for an extended period of time.

“Even though (Strasburg) has probably pitched as well as any starting pitcher in baseball, he’s been around for a short period of time. He’s going to have plenty of All-Star Games to pitch in. I don’t know that this year will be the one. I’m a believer that it’s (based) on the total package.”

 

Hayden Penn was named AAA Player of the month of June (4-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 32K’s in 33.1 IP)

Zack Duke threw side yesterday with no problems. He will make his 1st of 2 rehab starts July 5th with AA Altoona.

Charlie Morton was taken off the DL and was optioned to AAA Indy. Huntington explains on his decision here

According to MLBTradeRumors the Marlins have inquired on Octavio Dotel.

 

Dotel has pitched in the last 3 games, and 4 of 5. Hanny or Meek tonight if there is a save situation??

 

Today’s Pitching Matchup:

Kyle Kendrick

4-3 4.88 ERA

In his last 4 Starts he is 1-1 with a 6.04 ERA

vs

Paul Maholm

5-6 3.98 ERA

Paul is 3-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 6 Starts against the Phillies.