Late inning rush drops Phillies 5-4

Andrew McCutchen's ninth inning single smashed over the head of Shane Victorino completed a four run rally over the final two innings to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies and give the Pirates the series win in the only visit to PNC Park this season by the club Pirates fans love to hate.
Pedro Alvarez hit a long homer (1) for the Pirates only run not scored in the eighth or ninth and Joel Hanrahan (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the W.
Pittsburgh is off today as they are on their way West for three games against the Dodgers that starts on Tuesday afternoon..

Pirate Hooks

1) The Pirates are going to have be a team that scrapes for runs.
Looking at the talent tell you that much,but the pitching can hold up,they could be in the hunt for .500.
I still think the power part of the hitting has massive questions,so I would not go as far to say I would say that's a safe bet and many things would have to click,but maybe...

2) The Phillies scored four runs,but only two of them earned.
I thought James McDonald pitched well in his six inning outing and if you consider that other than Hunter Pence (a homer and double off McDonald),he was terrific.

3) I liked Evan Meek's one inning.
I think his injuries cost him a little hop off his heater,but mid 90's still is nothing to sneeze at and I bet he was working in the 92-95 area.
If Meek returns to form,the Pirates might feel better about moving Joel Hanrahan at the deadline..

4) Pedro Alvarez might have struggled in the series for the most part,but his homer sure looked good as it carried deep over the right field wall.
Alvarez does not have to hit .300,I'll take .260 if he does it with 25-30 homers.
This is a pivotal year for Alvarez,I do not think the Pirates are going to hand him a starting job next season with performance levels of 2011...

5) Had to feel good for Matt Hague's first career hit and game tying RBI.
One never knows how many at bats that you will get off the end of the bench before the roster squeeze starts with injuries etc,better to get it and have that one on the mantle.
Ask Stephen Gionta how long it can take to get number one (goal) in the big show.....

Back later with the Cavaliers and Nets,which I am about to watch now...
I still have not forgotten about the Indians preview and the prospect series,they are on the way-I promise!

Photo Credit
Jared Wickersham_Getty Images