Dumatrait returns to haunt Cincinnati in 7-2 win

Phil Dumatrait returned to the scene of his major league start and the team that released him over the winter and gave his best performance of the season as the Pirates avoided a sweep of their series in Cincinnati with a 7-2 win.
Dumatrait (2-2) allowed just 2 infield singles and just one run(it was unearned) over his seven inning outing,but perhaps even more importantly struck out a season high nine Reds and walked just two and that is very encouraging considering the control issues that have plagued the anchors of the rotation lately.
Jack Wilson gave the Bucs a 1-0 in the first as he doubled home Freddy Sanchez,but the lead would not last long as Cincinnati scored all the runs that they would get off Dumatrait when Jerry Hairston scored on Sanchez's throwing error attempting to throw out Brandon Phillips at first base.
The Bucs salted this one away in the third as Xavier Nady and Jason Michaels each doubled home a run for a 3-1 lead.
Freddy Sanchez added another run in the 4th when his deep sac fly scored Raul Chavez from third (how deep did that have to be to score the slow-footed Chavez?),but Pittsburgh was not finished in the inning yet as Jason Bay slammed a two run homer (13) and continued his white hot hitting as of late.
Xavier Nady added a fifth inning longball (9) to finish the Pittsburgh scoring.
A needed win and a super night from Phil Dumatrait.
The Buccos travel to the Gateway to the West for a three game weekend series vs El Birdos.

Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Zach Duke (2-3 4.55 ERA) at St.Louis:Todd Wellemeyer (5-1 3.36 ERA) 8:15 ERA

Bullpen Notes

The Pirates recalled Bryan Bullington from Indianapolis yesterday and returned Marino Salas to the I-Tribe.
Bullington's numbers look awful,but he has rebounded a bit from a crummy start to win the International League pitcher of the week and should be used as the mop-up man in long relief.

Perhaps Bullington's callup put John Van Benschoten in a pissy mood?
We traveled to Allentown Pa to check out the Indianapolis Indians and I will be doing an entire post on the day as soon as I get the pictures from Ryan,but I had to connect these two issues,as Battlin Bob does not care for JVB's attitude!
Check out the Battlers take on this and I will comment when the trip post comes out.

I am doing my homework for tomorrow's mock draft,so here is hoping it goes well.
Last years was Ok,but I am hoping to improve.

Apparently some teams are making assurances to the family of Tim Beckham that he is either Tampa or Pittsburgh bound as his father told the Post-Gazette that he has had meeting with either of those teams.
From what I hear Tampa is down to Beckham or Florida State backstop Buster Posey,while the Pirates will take Beckham if the Rays select Posey.
However,Pittsburgh will select Vanderbilt's Pedro Alvarez,if the Floridians tab Beckham with their first pick.

Sorry to hear of the passing of Harvey Korman at the age of 81.
Korman was a staple of 1970's television as one of the stars of the Carol Burnett show on CBS.
Korman also was a guest star on several shows through the years most notably (to me!) the Wild Wild West and starred in the classic film Blazing Saddles.

Back later or tomorrow with words on our visit to Allentown and some on the signing front from there and more!

Photo Credits
Dumatrait:Al Behrman-AP Photo
Bullington:Jake Schellkopf-AP Photo
Korman:Unknown