The race for the basement. PIT @ HOU

I was watching MLBNetwork before the game and that’s what they refered the Pirates/Astros series as. The race for the basement. (Which is pretty funny, as well as pretty sad)

 

 

 

 

Some Brad Lincoln Stats: (before last nights game)

(4th overall pick, 2006 draft)

Career with the University of Houston:

19-11 3.30 ERA, 293 K’s (3rd all time)

2006: 12-2 1.69 ERA, 3CG, 2 Shutouts

C-USA Pitcher of the year

3 Starts at Minute Maid Park:

2/12/06 vs Texas Tech: 7IP, 5H, 0ER, 1BB, 9K

Wed vs Cubs: (1st ML Win) 7IP, 4H, 0ER, 1BB, 6K- 93 Pitches

Last 3 Starts: 1-1, 2.84 ERA, 19 IP

 

Last night for Brad was not a very good one. In the 1st inning he gave up 2 ER, including a solo HR. In the 3rd inning he gave up 4 hits, Berkman hit a 2 run HR, 3ER. In the 4th inning he came up with the bases loaded, 2 outs (Lincoln is a very good hitter for a pitcher. He was 3 for 8 coming into yesterday’s game) and stuck out.

He went 5IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 0K, 1BB -88 Pitches

The most alarming part is the fact that he didn’t strike out a single person. Yikes.

He had over 150 friends and family at the game cheering him on. That’s got to feel pretty crummy.

Here is what Lincoln had to say after the game:

 

“You always want to do well in front of family and friends. I wouldn’t say I was trying too hard out there. I was just kind of upset that that’s the way it ended up. I couldn’t ever get in a groove.”

“I wasn’t really that emotional. I had some butterfilies in the first inning, but it was just a case where I couldn’t get comfortable out there.”

John Russell:

“He just couldn’t hit his spots. He wanted to do really well. Sometimes it’s another piece to the growing pains and development. He’s got to be able to understand the situation, maintain his composure and throw the ball the way he’s capable of.”

Pirates.com 

 

 

• The Pirates lost 2-6 and are now 0-4 against Houston this season.
• They fall to 11-33 on the road (NL Worst)
• The Astros have won 14 of last 19 meetings 

 

Walker 1-3, BB, Run

Jones, 1-4, RBI

Berkman (98 Career RBI against the Pirates) 1-4, HR (9), 3RBI

Lee 2-4, HR (11), 2 Runs

Rodriguez 7IP, 4H, 1ER, 10K (season high), 2BB

WP: Rodriguez (6-10)

LP: Lincoln (1-3)

 

 

Other Pirates Notes:

• Steve Pearce will be out until at least Aug. He had a platlet rich plasma injection yesterday. GM said surgery still possible, but not likely. Won’t know for another 4-6 weeks.  -Pirates.com
• Series vs Phillies:

Jose Tabata                Pedro Alvarez

4 for 16                      6 for 16

double, 2RBI              Double

3 Runs                      2 HR

1SB                          4RBI

.350 with RISP

• Garrett Jones last HR was 13th of June
• Bullpen ERA (Since June 26):

Cleveland Indians 1.26

Toronto Blue Jays 1.78

Pittsburgh Pirates 1.90

San Francisco Giants 2.50

Kansas City Royals 2.52

• Matt Hague (AA Altoona)

This season: 80 games:

.309 AVG, 17 doubles, 50 RBI

Last 10 games:

.410 AVG, 6 Doubles, 12 RBI, .478 OBP

• AAA Indy:

Brandon Moss 2-5, HR (11), 3RBI, 2 Runs

Clement 3-5, HR (5), 2RBI, 3 Runs

Powell 6IP, 7H, 3ER, 5K, 0BB

Indianapolis beat Louisville, 9-7

• Nathan Baker (Class A West Virgina Power) Threw 8 hitless innings and recorded a career high 8 K’s. He got his 6th W on the season and threw just 95 pitches. -Pirates.com 
• Pedro Alvarez bat starting to come alive? So far in July he is hitting .375 with 2 HR.
• Consecutive Games with a HR: (Pirates rookies since 2005):

2009 G. Jones- 4

2006 P. Paulino- 3

2010 P. Alvarez- 2

2009 G. Jones- 2

2009 A. McCutchen- 2

2007 C. Maldonado- 2

2006 N. Mclouth- 2

• The new Brad Lincoln Song (it’s actually pretty funny) -937thefan

 

During the game last night, I started thinking. It seemed like the Pirates never play very well after having the previous day off. So I looked at the scoreboard to see what the record was after an off day. Here is what I got:

April 7, W 4-3

April 16, W 4-3

April 20, L 1-8

May 4, W 3-2

May 14, W 10-6

June 4, L 4-6

June 8, L 2-5

June 15, L 4-6

June 22, L 3-6

Yesterday, July 6, L 2-6

The record: (4-6) being outscored 37-51.

That’s 5 straight loses after having a day off. 1 game under .500. Maybe I’m just overthinking things but shouldn’t having a day off be good? Maybe its just coincidental because the Pirates haven’t been playing that well during that stretch anyway. It was just a weird observation.

 

Around the Ballparks:

• Rafael Furcal was named the NL Player of the week.
• Tigers Brennan Boesch is the June AL Rookie of the month.
• Jim Thome was the AL Player of the week. (.400 with 4HR’s)
• Marlins Gaby Sanchez is the NL Rookie of the month for June.
• Marlins Josh Johnson is the NL Pitcher of the month for June.
• A-Rod is now tied with Manny Ramirez for the 2nd most Grand Slams in MLB History with 21. Lou Gehrig has the record with 23.
• Johnny Damon has 2 hits last night. His 1st was his 2500th hit. The second was a walkoff HR in the 11th inning.
• Ryan Zimmerman hit 2HR yesterday, including a walkoff solo HR in the 9th. His 4th multi HR game of the season and 8th career walkoff hit.
• Johan Santana threw a 3 hit shutout last night and hit his 1st career Home Run to defeat the Reds.
• Jered Weaver has been named to the American League all Star team replacing CC Sabathia.
• Fan falls from the upper deck at Texas Rangers game -mlb.com

 

 

Today’s Pitching Matchup:

 

Daniel McCutchen:

1-3, 8.87 ERA

McCutchen gave up just 1ER in his last outing against the Phillies. He got ahead of 12 of the 23 batters he faced, earning his 1st win of the season.

vs

Brian Moehler

1-4, 5.20 ERA

Here is how the Pirates stack up against him:

• Cedeno .364 AVG, 1RBI (11AB)
• Church .333 AVG, 1HR, 1RBI (15 AB)
• Doumit .250 AVG, 5RBI (12 AB)
• GFJ .400 AVG (5 AB)
• A. McCutchen .167 AVG (6 AB)
• Milledge .333 AVG (3 AB)
• Crosby .500 AVG (2AB)