Pirates win in 12 innings 1-0

In a game that was well played and exciting for a low single battle,Toronto's John McDonald kicked a Jason Michaels grounder with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th,allowing Doug Mientkiewicz to score and give the Pirates a 1-0 win and break a losing streak that had reached three games.
Zach Duke pitched very well in his seven inning appearance as Duke was able to match Toronto ace Roy Halladay zero for zero in the run column.
Duke had his good curve working and the Blue Jays really struggled with it as they managed just 6 hits off the Texas southpaw.
The Pirate bullpen also added five shutout innings of work from Damaso Marte,Matt Capps and eventual winner Tyler Yates (3-0).
Pittsburgh had two chances to score runs off Halladay that could have won the game,but Alex Rios easily gunned down Mientkiewicz at home as he attempted to score on a Raul Chavez fly to right.
In the seventh,the Pirates loaded the bases with one out,but pinch hitter Chris Gomez fanned against Halladay and Nyjer Morgan smacked a line drive off the temple of Halladay,but the ball improbably bounced to Scott Rolen,who snared it to end the inning.
A very exciting game for a 1-0 contest and the type of game that you don't see often anymore.
Especially in Pittsburgh.
The series continues tonight at 7.

Pitching Matchup
Toronto:Jesse Litsch (7-3 3.70 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Paul Maholm (4-5 4.45 ERA) 7:05

Bullpen Notes

The Pirates sent reliever Marino Salas back to Indianapolis and recalled Nyjer Morgan from the I-Tribe.
Morgan led off last night and played right field in what may be the weakest hitting right fielder that you have seen in quite a while.
Morgan's numbers were less than dazzling for both the Pirates and Indy this year,but the Pirates must have thought that they needed an extra flychaser with the injury to Xavier Nady,who has yet to be placed on the disabled list.
Why Morgan over Steve Pearce is another question to be asked as well.

The New Jersey Devils were able to add the player that they most coveted in the first round of the NHL Draft in Ottawa,but were able to do so and add other selections as well.
New Jersey added a second round selection for sending their top pick (21) to Washington for their first rounder (23) and a second round selection.
The Devils were not finished yet as they then added a third rounder in the 2009 Draft from Minnesota to move from 23 to 24.
When New Jersey was finally able to take someone,they took the ultra-competitive and speedy
Mattias Tedenby from Sweden.
The downside to Tedenby is size.
He is listed at 5'10,but most say that he is closer to 5'9 and more along the lines of 160 lbs than his listed 175.
I do not claim to know the NHL Draft like I do the other sports,but I liked what I heard about Tedenby and really liked what I saw on his highlights.

Good fight tonight in Florida,as IBF Middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham battles Edison Miranda in a rematch of their terrific and controversial 2006 battle.
Abraham retained his belt in the bout that was marred by judging that cost the power hitting Miranda three points on the scorecards and left Abraham with a broken jaw that he fought with the entire fight.
This bout will be a non-title fight at Super Middleweight as Abraham's belt is not on the line.
An Abraham win could cement him a Middleweight title unification fight with WBC champ Kelly Pavlik,while a Miranda win may not earn him a rematch with Pavlik.
Pavlik stopped Miranda just before winning the Middleweight gold.
In a total toss up fight,I lean slightly towards Miranda,but this truly is a even match that could go either way.

The fight is available on Showtime and a special nod to the network for showing the first fight all week as it was not televised in the United States at the time and gives fans a chance to see for themselves what happened.

Until tomorrow.

Photo Credits
Play at the Plate:Gene Puskar-AP Photo
Tedenby-New Jersey Devils
Abraham-Miranda I-Boxen.com