Steve Pearce's 12th inning double snapped a scoreless tie and lifted the Pirates to a 2-0 win in the initial bow of a three game series in Philadelphia against the Phillies.
Pearce scored Ryan Doumit,who had led the inning off with a double off Phillies reliever Les Walrond and Freddy Sanchez would add an insurance run with a single later in the inning.
However,the play that made sure that Pittsburgh was coming home with the win came in the bottom of the inning as Brandon Moss made a diving catch on a Chase Utley hit for the second out with two runners on and then whirled and doubled Shane Victorino off first base with Freddy Sanchez being used as the middle man to end the game.
Battlin Bob and I were listening to the game on the Phillies network on the return peg from Harrisburg (more on that later) and they sounded absolutely crushed!
I love it!!!!
Paul Maholm matched zeroes with Joe Blanton for seven innings,scattering five hits and striking out a career high 10 batters.
The Pirate offense could do little with Blanton to take advantage of the Maholm performance as they were only able to muster a Doug Mienkiewicz single off the former Oakland righthander.
Credit to the Pittsburgh bullpen as well as five hurlers combined to keep the Phils with goose eggs for five innings with winner T.J. Beam (1-1) throwing three of the innings.
Craig Hansen earned his first save of the season with the zero 12th inning.
The set continues tonight in Philly at 7 with a battle of disappointing righties.
Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Ian Snell (4-8 6.14 ERA) at Philadelphia:Brett Myers (4-9 5.34 ERA) 7:05
Bullpen Notes
As earlier noted,Battlin Bob and I were in Harrisburg for our first (game) visit to Commerce Bank Stadium to see the Altoona Curve against the Senators.
I will be posting on the visit in the next day or two with whatever pictures Ryan was able to take and some thoughts on Harrisburg,but it was the first game in the Pirate organization for the focal point of the trade with the Yankees in outfielder Jose Tabata.
We will have an on the signing front with a Harrisburg post,but to avoid suspense (Ha Ha) Tabata did sign the card that I had.
The 19 year old had a less than shiny reputation for not being very willing to pick up the sharpie,but some of that could be from being a Yankee farmhand.
Yankee and Red Sox players get bombarded at every stop (usually because they have so many cards) and get weary of signing quickly.
The Pirates did finally sign one of those high upside/hard to sign players as outfielder and 16th rounder Wesley Freeman was signed to what has been reported to be for fifth round area money.
The Pirates had to spend extra on Freeman as he was committed to Central Florida.
Take a look at Freeman in this Youtube video.
Charlie over at Bucs Dugout takes a look at the Pirates unsigned picks and the chances of Pittsburgh getting them signed.
Battlin Bob is likely crying in his breakfast as his guy Phil Dumatrait will not be returning this season as his ailing shoulder is not responding to medical treatment.
But don't worry Bob,Dumatrait should be as good as new (mediocre) for spring training!
Both Chris Duffy and Flammable Frankie Osoria cleared waivers and were assigned to the Buccos AAA Indianapolis squad.
Duffy joins a crowded outfield in the Hoosier state,so that should be interesting to watch that play out during the I-Tribes last month.
Pre-Season football has kicked off with both the Browns and Seahawks playing their first "practice games".
The Browns dropped a 24-20 tilt with the Jets while Seattle smacked the Vikings 34-17.
I have not watched either game yet,so not much to say about the makeups of the teams and I really dislike pre-season football anyway.
The Browns will visit the Giants in Practice game 2 while the Seahawks will host the Bears.
The Browns did get some bad news before the game as 4th rounder (and top pick) Beau Bell underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss four to six weeks.
Until next time.
Photo Credit
Pearce:Tom Mihalek-AP Photo
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