Another day, another loss.

 

 

 

 

Friday’s Pirates game the starting pitching by Maholm was good and the pen lost the game for the Buccos. Last night, well the roles were reversed. Jeff Karstens walked a career high 6 batters. (He only walked 3 in his last 6 previous starts), gave up back to back homers to Braun and Fielder and got the loss and the Pirates were defeated 4-3.

Karstens- 5IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 5K, 6BB- 93 Pitches

 

“The two home runs are going to happen, but the run in the first and fifth, I feel like it can’t happen,” Karstens said. “If they hit their way on, I tip my hat. But I walked those guys, put them in good situations to score runs, and they took advantage of it.”

“I had bad location all night,” Karstens said. “It’s a sour taste in my mouth when I go out there and walk five guys. That’s 20 percent of the guys I’ve walked all year.”

Pittsburgh’s five-game losing streak has coincided with a streak of games in which it allowed a first-inning run, and the Pirates have now given up 15 home runs over the past seven games.

“Guys need to relax a little bit more,” Russell said. “Were seeing signs of improvement, but it’s just not good enough. At some point, we’ll get over the hump, but it’s been a battle for us. Some guys are doing some better things, but we’re not to the level where we can get it done and get more runs across.”

Pirates.com

 

The ‘pen came in and pitched three scoreless innings and gave the chance for the Pirates to come back and win the game. (The Pirates were walked 7 times)

Gallagher (Pirates debut) 0.2 IP, 2H, 0ER, 1K, 0BB

Lopez 0.1 IP, 0H, 0ER, 1K, 0BB

Carrasco 2 IP, 2H, 0ER, 2K, 1BB

 

Tabata 2-3, SB

Alvarez 2-4

McCutchen 0-3, RBI

Jones 1-4, HR (11) -his first homerun since June 13th

Doumit 1-4, HR (8) -first HR allowed by Axford all season

Crosby 1-3, BB, Run

Braun 2-4, HR (12), SB, 3Runs- Career vs PIT: .317 AVG, 13HR, 50 RBI (49 games)

Fielder 1-2, HR (20)

Bush 6.1 IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB 5K

WP: Bush (4-6)

LP: Karstens (2-4)

SV: Axford (10)

 

Other Pirates News:

• Pen this season

Meek (4-3) 1.11 ERA, 5 Holds, 1 Save

Hanrahan (2-1) 3.93 ERA, 14 Holds

Dotel (2-1) 4.41 ERA, 19 Saves

• Neil Walker Rookie Ranks

Runs- 19, T-8th

Hits- 39, 12th

avg- .289, 4th

doubles- 10, T-6th

• DY came to pinch hit in the 9th inning, he struck out but I thought it was interesting that the 3 HR’s he has this year have came off of some pretty amazing arms: Doc Halladay, Brian Wilson and Steven Strasburg.
• The Pirates are now 11-37 on the road this season.
• The streak extends to 14 HR ‘s in a row without a man on base.
• Andrew McCutchen this season:

                                     HOME                             ROAD

AVG                              .323                                 .270

OBP                              .427                                 .330

HR                                  1                                      7

RBI                                 8                                      18

SB                                  11                                     9

RUNS                              28                                    24

• Zack Duke made his 2nd rehab start yesterday at Double-A Altoona

4IP, 2H, 1ER, 1HR, 0K, 1BB

He should make the start Friday after the All-Star Break.

• All Stars a plenty in Pirates Minor League System -Pirates.com
• Pirates mid term grades are in -PittsburghTrib
• How is all the Pirates loosing affecting their four Rookies? -PittsburghPostGazette
• Jason Jaramillo has played only three times in the last 27 days (6/13)

 

Today’s Pitching Matchup:

Brad Lincoln

1-3, 5.25 AVG, 1.39 WHIP

On the Road: 1-2, 4.88 ERA

OPP AVG .274

VS

Randy Wolf

6-8, 4.49 AVG, 1.50 WHIP

At home: 2-4, 4.75 ERA

OPP AVG .279

 

Around the Ballparks:

• Scott Kazmir of the Angels is the first player to allow 13 ER since Jason Marquis gave up 13 ER to the White Sox on 06/21/2006.
• Buster Posey continues to stay hot. Yesterday: 4 for 5, HR (7), 2B, 3RBI. Giants won 10-5 over the Nationals.
• Cliff Lee made his 1st start for the Rangers, CG (6th of the year) loss. The Rangers sold 14,000 tickets the day of the game. He was the first Rangers player to give up 3ER in a Rangers debut since Ryan Snare 08/06/2004.

 

• Rafel Furcal will replace Jose Reyes (right oblique strain) on the NL All-Star roster
• Paul Konerko will replace Justin Morneau (concussion) on the AL All-Star Roster
• Phillies won the 3rd consecutive walk off win yesterday in the 11th inning, 1-0. It was a battle of the pitchers duel.

Halladay- 9IP, 5H, 0ER, 9K, 117 Pitches

Wood- (making his 3rd ML start) was perfect through 8. He went 9 IP, 1H, 0ER, 109 pitches. 74 for strikes, 5 groundouts, 12 flyouts and faced 28 batters.

Travis Wood after the game:

“You try not to take in and get caught up with it, that way you can concentrate on each hitter. Ruiz got me with that at-bat but I battled through it and got through the ninth.

 

• Three consecutive walk off wins (in extra innings since 1990)

Phillies- July 8-10, 2010

A’s- June 1-3, 2004

Mariners- Sept 16-18, 2002

Rockies- June 20-22, 2002

Astros Aug 3-5, 1991

• The Braves own the best run differential in the NL at +72.
• Miguel Cabrera (18 game hitting streak) .403 AVG, 3HR, 17RBI, 16 RUNS