"Fryed" and split

The key plays in the nightcap of the doubleheader were by rookie catcher Eric Fryer,who threw the ball into left field in the eighth inning to allow Washington to score the tying run and could not come up with the throw from right field as Washington scored what proved to be the winning run in a 4-3 Pirates loss.
Tony Watson was the loser in his first MLB decision.
The Pirates won the non-televised opener with three runs in the last two innings to grab a 5-3 W.
Jose Veras was the winner (2-2) with Joel Hanrahan finishing for his 24th save.
Andrew McCutchen (12) and Garrett Jones (9) homered in the victory.
The series finishes today with Kevin Correia (10-6 3.79 ERA) taking on Jason Marquis (7-2 3.62 ERA) at 1:35.....

Pirate Hooks

1) Keeping things to Game two for the most part,but Andrew McCutchen hit for the cycle between the two games.Cutch has been on fire recently and is making a real bid for his first trip to the All-Star game.

2) Brad Lincoln looked good in his spot start appearance in allowing two runs over six innings.
Lincoln struck out four and walked three,but his control of the fastball seemed to be improved.
Lincoln needed that control as he threw very few breaking pitches and stayed with the fastball for the most part...

3) Eric Fryer did get his first big league hit in the loss.
I have problems being too hard on Fryer because he is simply beyond his level right now due to the Pirates catching woes.
Hard to believe that just six weeks ago,Fryer was backing up Tony Sanchez at AA Altoona and he now has to be relied on as a big league alternative...

4) That said and Fryer's throw was not great,but Brandon Wood HAS to at least knock that ball down.
The throw was not so awful that Wood had no chance and the third baseman needs to pick an inexperienced catcher up on occasion.
Wood did not.

5) Tim Wood was sent down to Indianapolis to make room for Lincoln.
After his poor outing on Friday,I see no other viable option to drop from the roster...

6) The Pirates were not expected to make a huge Latin American push this season,but they did sign Colombian outfielder Harold Ramirez for 1.05 million.
Baseball America ranked Ramirez 15th in their Latin rankings and as a plus runner and bat....

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