Slow start,Slow finish

The Pittsburgh Pirates allowed four runs in the first inning,scraped their way back into the game by taking a 5-4 lead and then lost the game in the seventh as Colorado rallied to a 6-5 win at PNC Park.
The win gave the Rockies three of the four games of the series.
Mike Crotta (0-1)was the loser after allowing all four runners that he faced to reach base.
The Pirates take their first day off this season before opening a series against Milwaukee...

Pirate Hooks

1) Mike Crotta's lack of control with three walks and a single in his four batters caused the Rockies rally,but just for a second,let's go back further in the inning.
James McDonald retired the first two batters easily and allowed a soft seeing eye single to Dexter Fowler between short and third.
Immediately,McDonald was gone from the game.
I wonder about the "book" sometimes in that situation and that sometimes the "safe" play isn't the smartest play.
The hook of Clint Hurdle might have came out a batter too soon with Jonathan Herrera,a non-power threat, at the plate..

2) James McDonald allowed five runs in six and two thirds,but only one after the first.
McDonald settled down nicely and one underrated factor on the Pirates rally is that it seemed that the closer the Pirates cut into the lead,the more McDonald threw his curve-his best pitch.

3) Jose Tabata had just one hit,but it was enough to continue his hitting streak.
Tabata has reached base in every game thus far.

4) Steve Pearce was called out on strikes on three straight called after a 3-0 count.
I thought both strikes one and three were well out of the strike zone and Pearce's animated leap after strike three showed his disbelief....

5) Joe Beimel has been moved to Indianapolis to continue his rehab.
Beimel was a off season signing for his second stint in the Pittsburgh pen.
Beimel didnt do much for me the first time around and my hopes are not high for his second tour.

6) Take Jose Tabata and Neil Walker off the stat sheet and no other regular Pirate is hitting higher than Andrew McCutchen's .257.

7) Still no decision on the Ross Ohlendorf replacement.
Neal Huntington has "contingency plans" that cover Jeff Karstens,Brad Lincoln and Brian Burres.
Hoping to see Lincoln get the nod as the team needs to see what the Texan has to offer,but bet on the most likely replacement for the short term to be Karstens...

Back later with the final Devils game of the season and IF time permits,maybe a little golf talk...

Photo Credit_AP Photo