Seventh inning blunders cost bucs, lose 8-7 in 11.

The seventh inning seems to be haunting the Pirates as of late. For the second game in a row, the Pirates allowed the seventh to get out of hand giving the Brewers the chance to win the game.

“We always know every time we come here it’s going to be a battle,” Walker said. “Four-run lead, three-run lead, whatever it may be, it’s never safe here when we play these guys.”  

The Pirates entered the seventh inning with a 7-4 lead over the Brewers, but with the lineup the Brewers have, it’s never enough. Sean Gallagher gave up the lead-off single. Lefty Brian Burres was brought in to face the heart of the lineup. Prince Fielder launched a massive home run –estimated at 455 feet– bringing the game within one run. Chan Ho Park entered the inning four batters later, attempting to get out of the inning with the lead. Pedro Alvarez was charged with a fielding error at third base (10th this season), allowing Cain to score and tie the game at 7.

“It’s a tough play, but again, it kind of shows our youth a little bit,” said Pirates manager John Russell. “We make those plays and it might be a different game, but the guys really battled. They kept after it.”

After 14 pitchers were used, 21 position players and more than four hours later, the game finally ended in the 11th inning. Wil Ledema was on the mound. Neil Walker made the second costly error of the game (his first since July 4th), allowing Prince Fielder to get on first base, what could have been a double play. Instead, the Rookie–Lorenzo Cain– hit a walk-off home run and the Brewers won 8-7.

“It’s a tough play, but again, it kind of shows our youth a little bit,” said Pirates manager John Russell. “We make those plays and it might be a different game, but the guys really battled. They kept after it.”

The Pirates roughed up starter, Chris Capuano. They sent him packing after just three innings and 75 pitches. Capuano gave up six runs on six hits, walked three and struck out five.

Jose Tabata continued to be a hitting machine. He homered in the first inning and went 3-for-6 with two RBI on the night.

The offense didn’t stop there. Chris Synder hit a three-run home run in the third inning (He also hit a home run in Friday’s game) 1-for-3 on the night with two walks. Neil Walker went 3-for-6, with a solo home run in the seventh.

The Brewers sent Parra, McClendon, Coffey, Axford, Hoffman and Loe to the mound and through eight innings of relief, they only gave up five hits and one run.

Zach Duke pitched 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out one.

“It’s tough coming in here, but we battled with them tonight,” Duke said. “Hopefully we can get one tomorrow.”

News and Notes:

• With the 8-7 loss, the Pirates have now lost 12 straight on the road.
• Chicks may dig the long ball, but apparently so does Miller Park. There was a total of six home runs last night (Tabata, Synder, Fielder (2), Lucroy, Walker). In the eight games this season at Miller Park against the Pirates they have hit 17 home runs.
• Sometimes Manager John Russell does things that really makes me scratch my head. Ryan Doumit has been awful against lefties this season, batting just .179 with a .252 OBP. So it made sense to start him against the left-handed starter, Chris Capuano right? Until John Bowker is called up in Septemeber (and saves us from the horrendous-ness that is Milledge and Doumit in right field) why not platoon the two in the time being?

Doumit VS RHP: 

.284 AVG

.354 OBP

.479 SLG

.833 OPS

Milledge VS LHP:

.319 AVG

.409 OBP

.517 SLG

.926 OPS

• The Pirates used all but two pitchers in the 11 inning game (Meek and McCutchen) Meek was warming up in the ’pen. Duke, Burres, Park, Hanrahan, Resop, Ledezma combined for 15 hits and eight runs.
• Hanrahan pitched a scoreless eight inning. He struck out the first two batters, walked Braun but struck out Prince Fielder swinging with a 97 mph heater to end the inning. NASTY.
• The Pirates are 4-5 in extra inning games, while the Brewers are 6-4.
• Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen both were o’fers on the night. Jones 0-for-6, McCutchen 0-for-5. GFJ is just 11-for-96.
• The Pirates are 5-12 against the Brewers this season, 17-45 since 2007.
• (Via @BucsInsider) Since his 6/9 recall Jose Tabata is tied with Albert Pujols for most hits (87) in NL. 

Minor League Update:

• Brandon Moss: 1-for-4, 2R, HR (21), 3RBI
• Jeff Locke 6IP, 5H, 1ER, 5K, 1BB
• Starling Marte (Double header) 3-for-8, 3RBI, SB, 4R

Sunday’s Pitching Matchup:

Charlie Morton 1-9, 9.35 ERA

VS

Dave Bush

Morton is making his first start in the majors since May 27th. In 80 innings pitched and 18 starts Charlie was 4-4, 3.83 ERA with 53 K and 30 BB for Triple-A Indy. Morton is 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA career against the Brewers.

Bush is 3-6 with a 4.84 ERA at Miller Park this season. In 14 career starts against the Pirates he is 5-5 with a 4.61 ERA.