This will be a Pirate based post and then if I can keep this thing afloat,we will post on the Devils transactions and other stuff that strikes me.
The Pirates grabbed two of three games against the Cincinnati Reds in Ohio,but should have earned a sweep.
Matt Capps showed the bad news to come as he blew saves in both of the first two games,which the Pirates split.
Capps would be diagnosed with a shoulder problem that leaves him on the sidelines for two months and the Pirates without their most reliable bullpen arm.
John Russell announced that the closer will be whoever is hot at the moment,but as this evolves bet on Damaso Marte being the main pitcher in the role.
This would improve the value of Marte for a possible trade or continue to build Marte's value to being a possible type A free agent that would yield two draft picks to Pittsburgh for his loss next winter.
For eight innings on Monday,all was well.
The Pirates played well and took a lead into the bottom of the ninth.
It was pretty much the Adam LaRoche show as LaRoche smacked a two run homer and added a
sac fly for the other Pirate run and it seemed that the win could both jump start LaRoche and get this road trip off to a strong start.
But it all was for naught as David Ross doubled off the wall,which put the tying run on base and Ken Griffey Jr. stepped to the plate to pinch hit.
Griffey's first swing sent the horsehide flying over the right field wall and the Reds snuck into the
Southern Ohio night with a 4-3 win.
Capps dropped to 1-3 on the season and his inability to hold the lead put a damper on a solid performance by Paul Maholm.
Maholm was effective for seven innings and allowed two runs on just five hits along with striking out five Reds.
The start completed a pretty nice June for the lefthander and here is hoping he can continue the solid work.
On Tuesday,the Bucs tried desperately to give the game to the home squad in allowing two leads to go away in the late innings before deciding to keep the win for thems
elves with a 6-5 win in 11 innings.Pittsburgh built a 3-0 lead on a 4th inning double by Jose Bautista and two runs in the sixth on a Adam LaRoche single and a Doug Mientkiewicz sac fly.
Cincinnati scored a sixth inning run and then tied the game on a long eighth inning homer by Brandon Phillips off Damaso Marte.
Jason Michaels hit a tenth inning double to give the Pirates a chance to win with a 4-3 lead,but Capps again could not hold the lead and this is the game that was most obvious that something could be wrong with the closer.
His velocity was way down and most pitches looked very hittable and the Pirates were fortunate to stagger into the 11th instead of another crushing loss.
The Pirates would score twice in the 11th and they would need both runs.
Jack Wilson's triple scored Xavier Nady from first and Nate McLouth singled into the gap to send Wilson trotting home with a 6-4 lead.
Newly recalled Romulo Sanchez survived a rocky 11th to earn the save (1) despite allowing a run to the Redlegs and Capps vultured the win to move to 2-3.
The Pirates used everyone but the groundskeeper in the win as eight pitchers were used in the contest.
In the series finale', the Pirates started fast with four first inning runs, could
not hold the lead and then roared past the Reds in winning the rubber match 9-5.Xavier Nady crushed two homers (11 and 12) and Jose Bautista added an insurance shot into the seats (10) to lead the suddenly powerful offense.
Nady finished the night with three RBI,while Bautista and the suddenly hot Adam LaRoche each added two.
The first five Pirate hitters all reached base as part of the fast start,but Battlin' Bob's favorite hurler John Van Benschoten was hammered for five runs (3 Home Runs allowed) in just two and a third innings.
Guess JVB was saying more than "NO!" after this one,huh,Bob?
Get used to this type of game as there is not anyone better at Indianapolis,so the door should remain to be a revolving one as long as Ian Snell and Phil Dumatrait are on the DL.
The winner and unsung hero in this one was newcomer Denny Bautista (1-0).
Bautista was dazzling in his three and a third inning outing as he allowed just one Cincinnati hit and was well deserving of his first win in black and gold.
Sean Burnett,John Grabow and Tyler Yates all combined to keep the Reds off the scoreboard and the Pirates rolled out from Ohio with the victory.
The Pirates are off today as they travel to Milwaukee for a three game series in Brew Town.
Bullpen Notes
Before Wednesday's game,Matt Capps was placed on the DL and the surprising call from Indianapolis was Steve Pearce.
Pearce pinch hit late in the game and struck out.
I am not sure how much action he will receive for the next few weeks,but this could be a way to acclimate Pearce to the bigs before his anticipated jump to full time play after the projected deadline moves.
Capps will basically be taking things easy during his downtime for the first month and then begin a throwing program over the second month.
The problem does not require surgery.
Or so they say for now.
With the addtions of Steve Pearce and Romulo Sanchez to the roster,they are the second and third players that signed for me since getting back into autographs to join the Pirates.
Brian Bixler was the first earlier this season.
The Pirates also are close to signing a top talent from South America in 16 year old Jonathan Barrios.
Barrios was ranked in the top 25 of prospects in the region.
John Russell has joined the latest baseball fad of batting the pitcher in the 8 hole instead of the customary 9th spot.
The argument is that a average batter will have more of a chance to knock in runners in the 9th spot than the 8th.
I don't buy it and actually I think this is a disadvantage as all too often the pitcher comes up with your 5,6,7 hitters on base in varying situations instead.
Sorry to sound like a "old schooler" here,but this will be a baseball version of the Mood Ring.
Until later,when hopefully I can keep this thing floating on the internet ocean.
Photo Credits
All Photos:Al Behrman-AP Photo
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