Meat Loaf sung it and the Pittsburgh Pirates did it as the final three games of a nine game road swing turned out to end better than it began with two wins in three days at Wrigley Field against the only team that the Buccos can seem to defeat regularly in the Chicago Cubs.
The Pirates now begin a four game series tonight against the hated Phillies at PNC Park with Daniel McCutchen (0-3) facing off against Cole Hamels (6-6).
Pirate Hooks-Things a bit hectic here yesterday,so I decided to combine the series into one recap and move on.
1) The Pirates had to be pleased with the pitching during the series.
I saw the two wins (was in Frederick for the middle game loss) and both Paul Maholm and Brad Lincoln looked strong.
What I was most encouraged with was both pitchers being able to work their way out of jams without the backbreaking base hits that plagues the Pirates consistently.
2) Lincoln was saved by the winds off Lake Michigan that kept a bomb off the bat of Alfonso Soriano in the ballpark instead of soaring out of it.
That and Lincoln getting a huge strikeout of pinch hitter Tyler Colvin with two runners in scoring position were the biggest breaks in the game.
3) Lincoln allowed just four hits over seven innings,Paul Maholm seven over eight innings and Jeff Karstens seven in six innings in a losing effort.
Keep the hit totals low and good things tend to happen.
Compare those numbers to each pitchers previous start-Karstens seven in five and a third,Maholm seven in one and Lincoln eight in six and see the difference...
4) I don't want to shortchange Maholm in his win as he kept the Cubs off balance and didn't have the advantage of the wind either.
5) The Maholm win almost didn't happen as Ryan Doumit wasn't even halfway between second and third on a flyball smacked by Jose Tabata went over the head of Tyler Colvin.
Doumit then compounded the error by not sliding into the plate and was narrowly safe.
6) That game again saw another injured infielder as Bobby Crosby ran into Lastings Milledge on a pop/fly.
One would think that major leaguers would master a skill taught to children,but it is possible that crowd noise could have been an issue with the Crosby play.
Considering the Neil Walker collision was in Oakland,I cannot give that possibility to that smashup.
7) Tom Gorzelanny tossed five shutout innings against the Pirates and continues to be at least a decent starter.
Why Neal Huntington virtually gave Gorzo away (and to a division rival,no less) for an assortment of empty Gatorade bottles is baffling.
8) Andy LaRoche finally played some second base after the rash of collisions.
I thought that was a good idea as I would much rather see LaRoche try than more of Delwyn Young's flailings like last year.
9) Hasn't Steve Pearce's injury assignment to Indianapolis seemed like it started in the Truman Administration?
What the Buccos thinking process is with this is unknown,unless the idea is to attempt to inflate the trade worth of Ryan Church with some extra at bats.
Pearce needs to be in the lineup and soon.
10) Speaking of Church and trade value-virtually none.
Why would any team want a pinch hitter/backup outfielder that followed a .161 May with two homers with a .100 June with no longballs.
I am planning on trying to be back later with a cleaning of the inbox and a link to an article that I will be hammering out for NationalsProspects.com on the Hagerstown Suns...
Photo Credit-John Smierciak/Associated Press
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